The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Starting 216 "NO SPARK"

I hooked a hot wire from battery to the positive side of the coil, the neg side on coil I attached to the post on the distributor that connects to the inside where the coil and ponts attach. I have set the point gap and rotor rotates but I am still not getting a spark when I hold the wire from the coil to metal no spark. Any suggestions

Try a new condenser.

You still have an incomplete circuit. Now run a wire from the neg post of dist back to ground.

What do you mean by negative post on distributor is this the post on the oppossite side of from th eneg post that I connected from the coil?

Yes

There is no "negative post of the distributor". If the starter is able to turn, the distributor grounds itself through the engine block. No external ground is needed, unless you've got one of those oddball distributors that reverses the polarity on the points every time the starter switch is pushed. Those systems got disabled almost as soon as they were introduced.

Check to be sure you don't have an unintentional ground where the wire from the coil attaches to the distributor. It's a common mistake to allow the stud that goes through the side of the distributor housing to get grounded. This prevents the points from opening and closing the circuit from the coil to ground. If you move the points from open to closed with a screwdriver with the ignition turned on, the coil should generate a high-voltage spark. If the primary circuit is grounded to the distributor housing, opening and closing the points manually won't make a difference.
Jerry

Make sure that the condenser blade connection is not grounding out on the distributor plate. With voltage to the + side of the coil, the block grounded, you should get a spark at the {closed} points by opening them with a light duty screw driver. If the # 1 piston is coming up on or near TDC power stroke, {Check for the ball bearing inset into the flywheel through the bell housing at the started back. Check to see if the rotor is pointing at or near the #1 plug terminal. Good luck

Think I will join this thread. I think I have the same problem/questions. Thank you

With your hot wire on the plus side of your coil. stick a flat blade sr=crew driver across the point gap. If it sparks and your coil fires then your points mite be dirty/ used up /need reajusted closer orneed filed. It souinds like yer condenser mite be bad too.

I am pre-HEI school as I named that points'problem' tune in the 50's. I had about as much smarts as God give a day old red worm. Henry Ford sent me a fast ball with the dual points in the V-8 flatheads. The manuals suggest using a points file. I found out that 3M wet/dry 400 was a more suitable tool to dress the points. A piece of paper or card removes any debris.

Feel free to ask any questions of me. I do have my days when my long term / short term memory runs a wheel off. My recall of the 'old iron' in-line 6's has received a kick start on joining the forum.