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| | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 | I have been trying to start my 261 just to see if it would fire up. Getting no fire at the plugs or across the points. I noticed there are two ignition condensers, one in the distributor and another on the coil. I've never seen this set up before and am wondering why. The engine was a replacement in a '55 school bus. Casting date on the block is D33 and the pad at the distributor is blank.
Joe D. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | Usually the outside condenser is for noise suppression for a radio.
Evan
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 | Well, I can see why noise suppression would be wanted on a school bus....
Joe D. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | The coil-mounted condenser connects to the (+) terminal, the one that receives power from the ignition switch. Yes, it's an AM radio noise suppressor, along with another one that attaches between the generator "ARM" terminal and ground. If it's connected to the downstream side of the coil it creates an over-capacitance situation and will cause metal transfer from one point to the other.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 1,101 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 1,101 | I had a similar issue where I was not getting enough juice to the spark plugs in order to fire and ignite the fuel. My issue was I had a bad ballast resistor and it was too restrictive. It was stepping the voltage down too much going to the coil. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | The 1954 radio noise suppression kit included a condenser for the generator, coil (as described above), and on the voltage regulator (BAT terminal), and there was a "front wheel static collector" installed inside the "dust cap" for each front spindle. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 | I have the engine on a dolly very similar to the one in Tech Tips, except larger casters. The battery neg is connected to ground on the block and pos to the stomp starter with a jumper to the pos side of the coil. Neg side of the coil is connected to the distributor. The external condenser was connected to the neg side of the coil. When the engine turns over, the points open and close, but there is no spark at the points.
Joe D. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Joe D.,
I'd try a different/new condenser.
If it does not solve the problem, it is no "loss: it is a good idea to have a spare condenser, points, and distributor cap. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 94 | I think I'll pull both condensers and check them with an ohm meter and same for the coil. Also have at least one or more spares laying around.
Thanks for the inputs.
Joe D. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | I think the condenser on the coil has absolutely nothing to do with running or not. It's just a noise suppression device. If I'm wrong I stand corrected.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 | Read Jerry's post again, The condenser is connected wrong.
Tommy
59 apache 1/2t
261 short stepside
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 | Sounds like a bad coil to me.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | I have seen a few engines where the distributor housing was not grounding to the block. You might want to try a jumper wire from the dist to the block.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,272 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,272 | Clean the points. Can't tell you how many times I "fixed" everything else, them cleaned the points to fix the problem. That includes new points.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
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