JD H Wico C no spark, points?

I'm having a issue w/ my JD H Wico C (similar to some I've read in the archives here). The mag worked fine after I got the tractor(once i put a new cap on it). After the tractor sat indoors for a year, I got motivated to change oil and fix coolant pipe leaks. Got ready to start it and no spark. The points never did look good, so I disconnected the coil & condenser wires and checked for continuity (across the points) w/ my ohm meter, (and there was none). Since I had a new set of points on the shelf (that I bought from the German sounding name catalog guys) I put those in (found out that I had to whittle the corners of the spring side contact holder for free motion ) gaped them, and still no spark. OHMed them out with the meter and no continuity , I polished them with a rouge cloth, dollar bill and business card, i could then get continuity thru them , but only if I lifted the spring side and let them roll off my thumb to snap closed (continuity wasn't repeatable). Still getting no spark, after reading several posts here I'm starting to conclude that I have a bad set of points. I looked @ NAPA (per a archived post here), they don't offer the CS2200 (only 2201 which from the pics don't look like a replacement). Any thoughts on my mag problem and a source for replacement points? Thanks

While there may be other things going on (condensor, coil, impulse assembly, etc) I agree looks like your points have a problem...Even with a perfect set of points if your spring wind n trip impulse assembly isnt working theres no spark at cranking speeds. Is it hand or elec cranking when theres no spark ?? Does the Mag make a loud sharp SNAP each 180 of revolution IE is the impulse assembly working ?? If so NO spark. Theres no kill switch function grounding out the points right ??? Are the points gapped correct such that they go FULL CLOSED thats needed for good continuity of course ??

Try Brillman or www.wiringharnesses.com

John T

Thanks, It's a hand crank. I can hear the impulse (clock spring) snap, and can see the points open when it does. It doesn't have a kill switch (I do plan to install one eventually for safety). There is a space between the rubber block on the points and the flat side of the mag cam/shaft when the points are closed (so I presume the points are fully deployed closed when the shaft is in this position).
My feeler gauge only goes to .025 I eyeballed a slightly smaller gap from that (the spec is .010). (In addition to new points I'll have to find my regular feeler gauge). I've seen some good tips here on cleaning points I'll try them while I'm waiting for my new set to arrive.

I use emery cloth fine grit to clean them and then a clean new business card behind the emery cloth on my 1935 JD B

The correct point gap is 0.015, not 0.010. You can find the correct 1-5084 point set at a number of reputable magneto parts suppliers, such as the Brillman Company, McDonald Carb & Ignition, etc.

Many good points here (pun intended). Thank you . After some thought, I disconnected the coil and cap wires from the points again, this time I re-attached the spring side (w/o coil or cap connection) of the points to the nylon non-conducting contact. (I took my readings before w/ the points spring disconnected but wedged against the mag housing.) Now that the points spring was mounted simulating the tension it would see under operating conditions, I got repeatable continuity readings across the points. Then I took a jumper wire and connected the coil & cap wire to the points spring and cranked the flywheel, resulting in a robust spark. So I must conclude, the reason I wasn't getting any spark before is that the points were grounding out somewhere (which was suggested here) I will troubleshoot that with confidence (knowing that the mag is functional) . I appreciate your inputs!

Just a post-script, now that I had spark @ the coil, I re-attached the coil & condenser wire to the pivot side of the points (ohm-ing them and checking for spark @ the coil at every step). Put on the cap & rotor (successfully got spark @ both connections @ the cap). Splashed some gas into the tractor, cranked it and it fired right up. (Why I didn't have any spark in the first place is a mystery to me). Happy Holidays!

Many times there is just enough dirt etc. on the points they don't work and then once you mess with them a bit they start working simple as that but it make you want to pull your hair out