trsting condenser

wilson ind

Well-known Member
New points , condenser, changed coil to non resistor required after old ballast failed. Today after only three hours use points burnt turning contact arm blue. Thinking poor condenser. What is the opinion of others and how would I test condenser?
 
I would check your coil primary resistance, should be about 3 ohms. I have found new coils labeled incorrectly. Blue is over current, I would think. Poor condenser operation causes missing, cutting out, and pitting.
 
(quoted from post at 18:56:32 10/17/18) I would check your coil primary resistance, should be about 3 ohms. I have found new coils labeled incorrectly. Blue is over current, I would think. Poor condenser operation causes missing, cutting out, and pitting.

Sprint, I agree with you, condenser issues don't overheat/ "blue" the points "contact arm", condenser issues will cause pitting of one point, and a buildup of material on the other.

Even a mismatch of coil resistance and/or the lack of a ballast resistor where needed doesn't typically overheat and "blue" the contact arm, although it will shorten breaker point life.

UNLESS a "BLEM" leaves the ignition switch "ON" without the engine running, or there's some other WEIRD problem overheating and "bluing" ain't gonna happen.

It would be interesting to know "the rest of the story" about what's REALLY going on here!

But, typically, we never hear that side of the story/the TRUTH, sadly!
 
TSC China junk parts??
Now days you need to buy parts form places like O'Reilly's or NAPA. A true 12 volt coil that says on it no resister needed or your old coil with a VR1 or VR2 O'Reilly's part number for a ballast resister
 
For a number, the ignition points in a MF 35 gasser I once had, from the manual: 5 amperes max on point current. Battery volts/ 5 amperes = minimum dc resistance (you measure with an ohm meter) to save the points.

The condenser is to stop the arcing which causes pitting. To me, turning blue means too much current caused by too little resistance in the circuit....per your comment. I never saw a pitted set of points blue.
 
Nobody told you how to test it . You take the lead and rub it on the casing then place the casing and lead on an ohmmeter -- the meter needle should jump and return .
 

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