8N condenser question

davidl1632 · Oct 14, 2016

My late 1952 8N died suddenly yesterday...just stopped. Gas was full, had new plugs, new leads, new points, new coil, new rotor, new dist cap
and new condenser. I had power to the distributor, points were gapped right and leads were tight.........so I replaced the condenser, and it
started and ran well. Condenser was only 4 weeks old, so a) was it crappy, b) did something in the electrics cause it to fail or burn out, or
c) could a failed condenser cause the engine to just die like it did?
Your expertise is appreciated, thank you.

Jon Hagen · Oct 14, 2016

Nothing you did wrong, just poor quality parts. A shorted or open condenser will stop you in an instant, just like you turned off a switch.

Tim PloughNman Daley RIP · Oct 14, 2016

I suspect you have another issue as the root cause. Are you getting a good spark? Adding new parts doesn't magically fix the problem unless you luck pout and hit on the right one or run out of money...; > ) but do the basic simple tests first -Spark, Fuel, Compression, Worry about the first two for now, compression is always last. Critical details also will help -is it 6-volt/positive ground or a 12-volt convulsion??? When it just stops, that's when you need to check for spark. Fuel flow is next but wait until engine is COLD so you don't expose fuel vapors to a hot engine block. Check Bruce(VA) 75 Tips For N Owners...

Tim

Bruce (VA) · Oct 14, 2016

In the 50+ years I've worked on old cars, tractors, etc, I've had exactly 2 proven condenser failures. I may have others, but just because the vehicle ran after I replaced the condenser does not mean it was defective. Both failures occurred in the past 5 years. One was new out of the box on a 29 Ford and the other was after 2 or 3 years use on a 51 8N. Both check out fine on my meter. Both are confirmed bad because I put them back on the vehicle after a new condenser got it running.

BTW, I no longer replace condensers when I replace points.
75 Tips

davidl1632 · Oct 14, 2016

You guys are great! I really value your input and experience. Have had this 8N for 24 years and it is my favorite tractor, but still gives me the occasional headache.

Bruce (VA) · Oct 14, 2016

If you want to see if it was the condenser, put the old one back in. Easy to do in a sidemount.
75 Tips

tractorguy2 · Oct 14, 2016

My guess would be the points were dirty.Changing the condenser wiggled some dirt out. I buy and sell about 40 magnetos a year. In the last four years I have had only three bad condensers. One was still working but had holes rusted through the can. I have never had a problem with a new condenser.

DGinVT · Oct 16, 2016

Bruce: You comment about the 29 Ford. I had one for many years. During that time I had 2 condenser failures. Changed to an inshore supplier and did not have any more.

Bruce (VA) · Oct 16, 2016

Model A's were famous for condenser failures due to Henry's design error of putting the condenser in the bottom of the distributor about 3 inches from the exhaust manifold. The cure back in the day was a heat baffle that bolted on to the head. The modern day cure is to use V-8 points which have the condenser inside the distributor like a sidemount N.

8N condenser question

davidl1632

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Jon Hagen

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Tim PloughNman Daley RIP

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Bruce (VA)

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davidl1632

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Bruce (VA)

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tractorguy2

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DGinVT

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Bruce (VA)

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