MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
I had heard that a open condenser can prevent an engine from starting, but I had never proved it. I'm a believer now.
My Ford 4000 had been idle for several months due to a blown rear tire; last month I finally got around to replacing the tires. Not surprisingly it wasn't running well, having not been run. So I decided it was time for new points and condenser. My visits to the local auto parts stores (which in the past always carried points for the Ford) got me nothing. Even when I gave them a random Ford car model and year (just about any Ford made in the fifties or sixties uses the exact same points), nobody had them in stock. So I took a trip to TSC and picked up a tune-up kit (points/condensor/rotor) for the Ford.
After changing out the parts, the Ford didn't want to start but I eventually got it going. But it quit the next day and I couldn't get it started again. It would sputter a bit, but then quit. Interestingly, it appeared to have good spark: I pulled the plugs out and verified they would fire outside the engine. Compression was good, about 195 psi. I pharted around with it off and on for the past couple of weeks with no improvement.
Finally this morning I was driving by the local CNH dealer and stopped in and bought a Motorcraft tune-up kit. ($55 for points, condenser, rotor, spark plugs and the infamous Ford rotor clip) I changed out just the points and condenser, gapped the points and bumped the starter. It fired up instantly and ran perfectly!
I did a capacitor check of the TSC condenser with my multimeter. Sure enough, the brand new TSC condenser was open. Next time, I'll check the condenser first!
My Ford 4000 had been idle for several months due to a blown rear tire; last month I finally got around to replacing the tires. Not surprisingly it wasn't running well, having not been run. So I decided it was time for new points and condenser. My visits to the local auto parts stores (which in the past always carried points for the Ford) got me nothing. Even when I gave them a random Ford car model and year (just about any Ford made in the fifties or sixties uses the exact same points), nobody had them in stock. So I took a trip to TSC and picked up a tune-up kit (points/condensor/rotor) for the Ford.
After changing out the parts, the Ford didn't want to start but I eventually got it going. But it quit the next day and I couldn't get it started again. It would sputter a bit, but then quit. Interestingly, it appeared to have good spark: I pulled the plugs out and verified they would fire outside the engine. Compression was good, about 195 psi. I pharted around with it off and on for the past couple of weeks with no improvement.
Finally this morning I was driving by the local CNH dealer and stopped in and bought a Motorcraft tune-up kit. ($55 for points, condenser, rotor, spark plugs and the infamous Ford rotor clip) I changed out just the points and condenser, gapped the points and bumped the starter. It fired up instantly and ran perfectly!
I did a capacitor check of the TSC condenser with my multimeter. Sure enough, the brand new TSC condenser was open. Next time, I'll check the condenser first!