Coil or Condenser
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
Coil or Condenser
I just changed my points and condenser. The points had a small built up point on the cam side and the matching hole on the fixed side. After many years I have forgotten whether this indicates a coil or a capacitor problem. I know one of you other "gray beards" knows the answer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
Coils rarely go bad. Way back in the day when I worked in an auto shop and nearly all cars had points, I saw that often. Coils were never changed to fix that problem...replacing the points and condenser did...plus making sure the dwell angle was set properly.
Your point gap was possibly off and staying closed too long, allowing unneeded voltage and causing metal transfer from one side to the other.
It could also be points that were misaligned, allowing contact only in the one spot and not evenly across the flat area of the points.
Your point gap was possibly off and staying closed too long, allowing unneeded voltage and causing metal transfer from one side to the other.
It could also be points that were misaligned, allowing contact only in the one spot and not evenly across the flat area of the points.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
The thing I forgot to mention was that I learned way back that if the metal transfer was to one side of the points it indicated a coil problem and if on the other side it indicated a condenser problem. One of the tune up part manufacturers put out a brochure explaining it. Long time ago and I do not remember the details.
Old points were not misaligned and had good contact. As you mentioned, typically the condenser is the problem but I have replaced a few coils in my lifetime. The dwell setting was 31 degrees when installed new and was 27 degrees when I saw the buildup on the points. Not concerned that dwell angle was a issue.
Old points were not misaligned and had good contact. As you mentioned, typically the condenser is the problem but I have replaced a few coils in my lifetime. The dwell setting was 31 degrees when installed new and was 27 degrees when I saw the buildup on the points. Not concerned that dwell angle was a issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
U didn't say how long u had those set of points in use?
What the condenser does is eliminate the large spark when the points open every time. BTW thats when the coil sends its electrical energy to ground through the spark plug. So i would imagine if the spark is moving metal from one side of the points to the other and the condenser maynot be well.
But only u would know if u left the ignition sw ON to long - or u may have left it ON and never realized it.:o IMHO i see the coil as doing its job correctly by producing a spark - its the condensers job to absorb the spark energy when the points open.
Hope this helps,
cardo0
But only u would know if u left the ignition sw ON to long - or u may have left it ON and never realized it.:o IMHO i see the coil as doing its job correctly by producing a spark - its the condensers job to absorb the spark energy when the points open.
Hope this helps,
cardo0
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
The thing I forgot to mention was that I learned way back that if the metal transfer was to one side of the points it indicated a coil problem and if on the other side it indicated a condenser problem. One of the tune up part manufacturers put out a brochure explaining it. Long time ago and I do not remember the details.
Maybe if Lars does a search he will chime in on this one.
