Help me with Coil spark problem

[IVAN IICO]

Hi all,

OKay here is my dilemna- My 1977 40 is about to be put back on the road again after a long hiatus (couple years). I am having some issues with the coil somewhere. I am not getting spark from the coil wire to the distributor. (I have not yet purchased a new wire so that is on the list for me to try) but the old one did work back in the day. I checked with a voltage tester and I am getting a current into the coil when the ignition switch is on. any ideas/clues suggestions other than the coil wire?? I do remember a member mentioneing in the past about the grounding via the coil bracket. I have three wires connected to the coil itself one is a perhaps a small solenoid small round metal piece that has a hole in the bracket to mount (about the size of a 1/2 roll of quarters or so) If needed I can snap a picture to help.

The starter is cranking perfectly and I have plenty of juice in the battery as it is freshly charged.

Thanks a ton for any help!!

 

[mtweller]

coil/ignitor bracket grounded, 12v to the b/y wired connector, 2-wire plug to distributor and that's it. I just fired a '78 2F that way with no wiring harness.

Good luck

 

[77FJ40-07FJC]

When I got my 77 a few years ago I had spark problems too. I purchased a FireBall ign and ended the problems, .. over, done, never fails to start and run with perfect purrrrrs. They aren't all that expensive... worth EVERY cent. I kept my old coil and just followed the instructions.

If you aren't aquainted, it is a electronic box and a replacement assembly that goes inside the old distributor and replaces the points. I'd suggest new wires at the same time unless you have already done that.

 

[grant5127]

if so equipped, it could be a faulty contact point set or condenser......

 

[IVAN IICO]

some pics to show my current wiring

It seems I have everyything wired up correctly from my electrical schematic... The blue shrink tubing is coming off my harness and into the ignitor- I traced the other end to the condensor on the Distributor. + side of coil: BY is also form the harness-Red is going to the other condensor. BW is again going to the harness and to the starter. There is also a wire coming from the coil to the + side

- side of coil: runs from - to the ignitor.

The electrical schematic shows a grounding wire coming from the ignitor..I do not see anything like that on my set-up all I have is a green plastic harness (in the pic) that houses wires form the ignitor.

I want to try to keep this set-up as opposed to by-passing anything or jury rigging something up but if need be I guess I may have to!?!?

 

[Pin_Head]

Disconnect the ignitor from the - side of the coil; turn the key on and momentarily ground the - side of the coil and see if you have a spark. If so then the ignitor/distributor/points may be bad.