The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop dist. no dwell

I have power, 12V, to my coil. But after hooking my dwell meter, I have no dwell. Do I have a bad coil or I am doing something wrong? My truck quit on my way home so had it towed. Changed my points and cond. and hope that was it, but no. And yes the dist. turn when you hit the starter. 53 3100 55 motor root

What did you set the points to? Did you see spark?

You should ba able to make a few simple tests with a multimeter to see if you are getting 12v through the coil.

Take dist cab off and put a business card between the points (this makes sure they are open). Turn the ignition switch on and then test for 12v on both small posts on the coil (positive and negitive). If you don't see 12v on the negitive side then the coil is bad. Now check for 12v at the points, you should see 12v there as well. If you have 12v on the negitive of the coil and not at the points then the wire is broken between them.

Also check the high tension post on the coil to make sure it's making good contact and not all corroded up.

Hope this helps,

Mike B

Don't know what I did, checked everything for the three time and finely got power to the points. Thanks Mike for the help with the coil troubleshooting. After I got power to the points got help with the stomp starter and got it dwelled. Put it back together and its alive. Drove to my toy shop and quit for the day. I think the cond. was the problem. root

I have found some points(new replacement ones) had a coating on the points. No corrosion, and no contact. Pulled a match book striker strip through and Contact! Glad I was taught that trick back in the day.