Spark Problems?

Unknown

have a 1951 Hudson Pacemaker with a 232 inline 6 and i cant get any spark. I checked with a test light, I have "juice" at both sides of coil,out of the coil, in the distributor, I checked cap and rotor, brand new plugs and wires, so everywhere I should except coming out of the wires. It's not making sense to me, if anone has any other thoughts leave the info-thx

mars55

The points are opening and closing as the engine turns, right? If they are try this; with the points closed and power applied open the points. You should see a small arc across the points contacts as the points open.

Unknown

run some fine emery cloth between points sometimes new ones have cosmoline on them that prevents fireing allso check pigtail inside dist, sometimes rubs on case and will kill the spark,

Jon B

When in doubt, try a new condenser!



(By the way, did this condition start all of a sudden? Was it running just fine, until you changed the

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? (fill in the blank and you may have your answer.)

Unknown

No, we are trying to get it started after a few years of sitting around. A test light shows juice at the coil, the generator, in the distributor cap, the solenoid, and the regulator. Took emery cloth to the points and the distributor. We have juice everywhere except at the spark plugs. It a new battery, spark plugs and plug wires. Just a little baffled.

Jon B

Possible short circuit where the wire passes through the wall of the distributor? There is an insulator there but sometimes if it's not right, the terminal will short out on the metal housing.

SuperDave

If you have

"juice"on both sides of the coil and the points are closed.. As Bill said, your points are not making contact. Most likely some oxidation built up. Take a the striker portion of a match book and pass it through the points to clean them up. Recheck the point gap. The "juice" should always be present on the ignition switch side of the coil and only be on the points side when the points are open. Good Luck..

Fred

I had a similar problem with 262 ci six. First found carbon tip in center of cap had disapeared (???) Second, new points were defective and had a short somewhere as when I put old points back it ran.

Fred

464Saloon

You might want to check for a crack in the rotor. I had a similar problem on my car a while back. One of the members here mentioned checking for that. If it is cracked the power will run to the distributor shaft instead of to the terminals. That was the case with mine. A hairline crack that you would have never seen if not looking for it. I replaced the rotor and the problem was solved.

Geoff

You need to turn the ignition on, remove the distributor cap, make sure the points are closed, pull the wire from the centre terminal and hold the end 1/4" away from ground, and flick the points open. You should have a fat white spark jump to ground. If not, you need to check back through the points, condensor, and coil, and find out why no spark. If you do have a spark at the wire, then it could be the rotor shorting to ground through the centre. Good luck,

Geoff

Hudsonrules

Have you checked firing order? Ignition feed and coil to distributor wires. frayed wires, some linkage touching somewhere and shorting out the spark? These problems can be frustrating, but they make one think. Man made it, man can break it, hopefully man can fix it. Just think, in fifty years from now, most people will not have the slightest idea of what to do. Have fun and good luck. Arnie in Nevada

Unknown

Thanks, we got it fixed. There was juice all of the time on both sides. Took emery cloth to the points again and this time it worked. Must not have cleaned them good enough the first time. She started, know working on the brakes. Again thanks to all of you, this is a great forum!!!