Weak Fire Question

[Danny P.]

Once again I need all of your experiance my fellow Ford lovers. I've been fixing up my dads old Jubilee for about the last year and tried to start it yesterday. For alittle background I used this tractor all of the time until about seven or eight years ago when I got a 3000 diesel.Since then it just sat.Before I quit using it I put new plugs,wires,cap,coil,points cond.on it and it ran fine.It had a jack legged alternator so I bought a complete kit from this site and put. When I couldn't get it to start I started checking and no spark at plug.I cleaned and set the points cleaned the coil wire connections and nnalert in the cap and got a real weak spark at the plug.How or what do I need to check before I just start throwing parts at it? My dad was my points man but he passed about 5 years ago.Thanks.
 

[russ1]

I assume you have converted to 12 volt. Did you, by chance, install a resistor before a 12 volt coil? That would weaken the spark I think.
 

[Danny P.]

Yes, I converted to a 12v alt kit and system. I did put in a resistor the wiring diagram in the kit showed it. But what your saying is the kit is assuming I still have a 6v coil, points and condesor? Should I take it out and tie the two wires together? Thanks.
 

[sotxbill]

first off.. clean the points as the new points are china made and coorode up quickly so you will need to clean the contacts more often. make sure the gap is correct and that the points didnt slip and close up on your gap.

second make sure you have a good 12 volts going up to the resistor feeding the coil.

a bad condensor will also make a weak spark and just becuase its new and made overseas, many times I have put the old condensor back in and got better results. Sadly, new parts are not always better.

Others will ask you if you have the correct coil for a resistor. As you need a 6 volt coil with an external resistor.

good luck and let us know.
 

[Danny P.]

I cleaned and regaped the points. However I have a 12v coil, points ect. Should I remove the resistor?
 

[Jerry/MT]

Before you remove the resistor, check the coil to make sure it has ~3.2 ohms resistance. Many so called 12v coils are 1.6 ohm coils that need a resistor on a 12 V system.
 

[Dell (WA)]

Danny........gitta REAL 12V coil, NAPA IC-14. ($15, cheap) Never uses a resistor. Plus it makes hotter sparkies too. Condensers are known to be BAD right outta the box. And yes, the boys are right, yer points gitt INVISIBLE corrosion on them. Me? I clamp a clean $1-bill between the points (0.025") and pull. Iff'n yer really cheap, tear a strip from HEAVY brown paper grocery sack and use that. ........Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister
 

[souNdguy]

if it's a true 12v coil.. WHY would you use a resistor in a 12v system????


:)

try it without it!