Ford 8N, no spark

Boisedave · Apr 30, 2016

Ford 8N had no spark. Put in new points, condenser, rotor, and cap. Still no spark. connecting test light from battery ground post to the external wire on (side mount) distributor, the test light lights up with ignition on, and when I turn it over, the light dims a little bit, rhythmically, but does not go out like it should if the points were opening. But the points ARE opening, I can see them!

Just put a new coil in also.

Any ideas?

thanks much,

Winchester1 · Apr 30, 2016

My guess is you are not getting a ground (from all the years of rust, etc.) from the dist. back to the battery. You can use an OHM meter or simply run a wire from the dist. back to the battery to check this. This assumes the points are installed correctly, etc.

Janicholson · Apr 30, 2016

There is often a film of preservative on the points. Clean that with a folded dollar (no lint) a faulty new condenser can also create that issue. Condensers do fail, but, if it ran before, put the old one back in. Jim

old · Apr 30, 2016

One should NEVER throw new parts at a problem till you know what the problem is or you can and will cause more problems.
Simple trouble shooting then parts.
First thing to do is pull the distributor cap off and rotor and check the point and make sure when they open and close to both see and hear a spark. I like to do it by hand so that I can hear it. No spark at points means point need to be cleaned or you have something shorted. By the way point gap on a side mount is 0.025 make sure you have that on all 4 lubes. Also you might try an hot wire fro mthe battery ignition side to the ignition side of the coil and see if you have spark. If you do then the problem is from the coil back to the battery if no spark then the problem is in the distributor

Ford 8N, no spark

Boisedave

New User

Winchester1

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Janicholson

Well-known Member

old

Well-known Member

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