No spark (update)

46 2n with 12 volt conversion.
So I replaced the starter and since then -no spark
Some info I posted last night about voltage was incorrect
because of how I checked it. My apologies
Currently it turns over well and I have 12.2 volts at the coil
I removed the distributor today and found the points pitted so I
replaced them and set the gap at .015.
Still no spark so not sure where to go next.
Any more advice is appreciated.
Brian
 
You should have battery voltage at the coil when the points are open.
It should drop considerably when the points are closed.
Exact value would depend on your coil and resistor(s).
If it does not drop when the points are closed you still have
something wrong in the distributor.
You could use a test light to the coil and you should see it blink
when you roll the engine over slowly.
 
Many new points have a protective coating on them that need cleaned off or they will not conduct power and if they do not make and break power you have no spark. So with the points closed do you have battery voltage at the coil wire?? If you do then the points are not conducting power. Point open battery volts points closes a good bit less then battery volts
 
Before you check anything else, make sure you have the correct voltage at the top of the coil. It should be battery voltage w/ the points open & about half that w/ the points closed.

Next, make sure your battery is fully charged.

Don't guess; put it on a charger.

You need a strong battery to:

1. Close the solenoid

2. Spin the starter

3. Engage the bendix

4. Provide voltage to the coil.

As the battery gets weaker, the first thing to fail is your spark. If the battery is almost totally dead, all you will hear is the solenoid clicking.

The more current you use to spin the starter, the less you have for the ignition.

Assuming that the bushings & advance weights are ok*, & that you have correct voltage to the coil, the most common electrical failure (no spark, weak spark) points on the frontmount are:

The insulator under the brass concave head screw & where the copper strip attaches. (it’s fiber & will wear out; poke & prod w/ your meter leads to make sure it still works)

The pigtail at the bottom of the coil not making contact w/ the concave head brass screw inside the distributor. (With the coil on, the pigtail must firmly contact the brass screw. No contact = no spark.

The copper strip is broken or grounded to the plate. (look very carefully for cracks & breaks)

The condenser wire grounding to the plate or side of the distributor.

The tab on the bottom of the coil not making contact w/ the brass button on the cap. (With the cap on, the tab must firmly contact the brass button. No contact = no spark.)

Incorrect positioning of the spring clip on the plate causing the pigtail to ground. (the open part of the clip goes between 7 & 9 o’clock on the plate. That puts the straight part of the clip opposite of the timing screw at 3 o’clock)

Incorrect seating of the coil on the distributor due to a loose bail or no gasket.(the coil must not move at all; if it does, replace the gasket or bail. Or stick some cardboard under the bail).

Water/moisture inside the cap due to gasket failure or the absence of a gasket. (the cap AND coil have gaskets)

Dirty/corroded/burned/incorrectly gapped or misaligned points.

Burned rotor, cracked/carbon tracked cap.

Unless the coil is cracked or shows a dead short, chances are it's fine; square coils rarely fail cold. Pull the distributor & do a continuity check.

First, make sure your meter/light works (don't ask....)

You can change points everyday & it will not fix bad bushings. If you are having trouble w/ points failure, check the shaft. If you detect movement, it needs new bushings. If you are using QUALITY** points and can not get the gap open to .015, replace the bushings.

Inspect the points; if they are pitted or burned, replace them. Next, dress the points by running a piece of card stock or brown paper bag through them. New points sometimes have an anti-corrosive dielectric coating on them & old points can corrode or pick up grease from a dirty feeler gauge or excessive cam lubricant. Make sure the points align correctly. Proper alignment is also critical to longevity. Look at the points when they are closed; both sides should mate evenly. Then, check the gap at .015 on the high point of all 4 cam lobes.

Now, follow these steps:

1. Coil off, cap off, points open. One probe on the brass screw & the other on both sides of the open points. On the side closest to the cam, you should have continuity. Not on the other side! If you do, you will also have continuity everywhere because the points are grounded.

2. Coil off, cap off, points open. One probe on the brass screw & the other anywhere on the body of the distributor. You should have no continuity! Now, rotate the tang on the distributor....as the points open & close, you have continuity (closed) and lose it when they open.

3. Coil on, cap off, points open. One probe on the lead on the top of the coil, the other on the cam side of the open points. You should have continuity!

4. Coil on, cap off, points open. One probe on the lead on the top of the coil, the other anywhere on the body of the distributor. You should have no continuity!

At this point, I just put the distributor, coil & cap all back on the tractor as a unit. The reason I do this is because it is real easy to get the cap or coil mis-aligned trying to put it back together one piece at a time & the result is something gets broken or you get a ‘no spark’ problem.

It's possible to put it back on wrong & break it. Look at the slot on the end of the cam shaft. What ever angle it happens to be, turn the distributor tang to match it. Make sure you can tell the wide side from the narrow side on both the cam & distributor! (close counts) Then place the distributor on the front of the engine, gently push it in place & slowly turn the distributor body until you feel the tang slip into the slot. Rotate the distributor body until the bolt holes line up. Then, hand tighten the two bolts until the distributor body is flush w/ the timing gear cover.

Finally, double check your firing order & plug wires. It’s 1-2-4-3, counterclockwise. It’s very easy to cross 3 & 4.

Post back w/ results & any other questions.



*Unscrew the plate hold down screw & remove the C clip to get the plate out. Remove the shaft & weights. The weights should freely move.

** Wells, Echlin, Blue Streak or CNH.
75 Tips
 
B,
As Bruce noted, the more you spin the engine, the lower the voltage to the ignition. That is one reason I am going back to a magneto on my N up north. Will keep the starter with either 6 or go to 12 volts. Expect it to work!!
Mr. T. Minnesota
 
I put a hand crank in the front of the engine and turn it over by hand.
You can roll it over with the starter. It will be harder to see with a
12 volt system because it rolls faster, but you should still see it flash.
 
You're quite welcome!
If you don't have a hand crank and the starter rolls too fast, you can also
put it in high gear and roll it with the rear tire to bump the engine over.
That's not a very smooth method, but it will turn the engine.
 

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