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WC no spark

J

Jersey Mike

New User
This week end I had no spark on my project WC. I tracked it down to a bad condenser. I replaced it with the old one and it started right up. This summer I converted the tractor to 12 volt negative ground, 3 wire Delco alternator. I also installed a Pertronix 12 volt, 3 ohm coil, but did not install a ballast resistor. I installed new points, condenser, plugs, cap, rotor and wires all purchased from this sight. I do not have a lot of running hours yet as this is still a work in progress. I'm puzzled about the condenser burning out so quickly, could it be from not installing a ballast resistor, or do they sometimes just fail without warning.
 
I almost NEVER replace condensers due the the fact that about 50% of them are bad right out of the box. Stuff made now days just flat out is not as good as what was made 30 plus years ago
 
Condensors, especially some of the new ones out there, can fail instantly. As far as the coil and/or ballast, I don't see that as the cause. If the coil is actually indeed a 3 ohm 12 volt no ballast should be required but you may wanna check with Pertronix on that to be safe and go with what they say NOT me or anyone else here. Excess coil current from wrong resistance coil or a missing ballast if needed, can cause premature points burn up moreso then condenser failure in my experience.

John T retired electrical engineer
 
Thanks John and Old. I was on Petronix web site and asked the same question to Tech support. I have not gotten a response yet. Old you say you rarely change a condenser because you don't trust the new ones. In your experience how long does a quality, made on the USA condenser last? Also is a condenser specific to the ignition its installed in or are they a fit all?
Thanks again
 
I have tractors that have condensers that are well over 10 years old and still going strong. The only time I ever remember a condenser going bad was the last one I replaced and it didn't last 10 minutes so I gave up on doing the old points plugs condenser and just do points and plugs
 
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