need 1978 small cap distributor parts asap

[jcj_78FJ40]

I just picked up one of those as a spare. I wish I had time to try an install it but I'm trying to get out of here for CMCC.

I would run a wire from the module directlry to your neg battery cable (at least for now). I would think the dist is mechanically grounded but you can also run a wire from the module to anywhere on the dist body if you want to be sure.

Double check your other hook-ups, dist cap & rotor.

Good luck.

I'm off to CMCC. I'm riding solo and have an extra seat if you want to come up.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

Sounds like it'll be fun, but ill be working this weekend. Maybe for fall crawl ill make it.
Ill tripple check all my connections and make sure that I'm actually getting juice to the coil.

 

[emorth]

Sam,
I just got back in town and logged in, leaving again tomorrow. Need any help?
Ed

 

[Devilmans Hand]

Didn't run with known good igniter. Maybe the distributor got fried? I've got a good known fj60 distributor with coil and igniter on the way.
BTW, got power going to coil too so its probably not my ignition switch.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

Ill probably need some help once I drive or tow my cruiser home. My 40 can sit for a while. Ill be requesting your assistance eventually. When do you get back in town?

 

[StaleAle]

Sounds like we need to have an emergency HAM day to get Sam back on the road and my tub off the frame

 

[greytandy]

I always keep an emergency ham in the basement.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

Maybe Jon. If I don't get it started tomorrow then I'm have it towed home this week.`

knowns:
I'm getting 12.4volts to the coil with the ignition switched on
Coil tests good with multimeter and I get approx 12volts at the coil terminals
Spark plug cable between coil and distributor tests good with 4.35kOhms
Battery is still good
The engine cranks and turns

I've tried the igniter test in the FSM, holding the cable from coil 5mm from ground to get a spark, with two known good igniters and they all fail. This leads me to believe that I'm doing this wrong. I've also used a spark tester and still get nothing.

I've got that burnt through hole on the dust cover inside the distributor which leads me to believe that something at sometime has gone fubar inside of there. I'm uncertain of when this may have happened, b/c i haven't had the distributor cap off since i've had possession of the cruiser, approx 2yr, and the PO (Dad) doesn't remember.

 

[emorth]

HI Sam,
OK, how does this sound... Since the plastic cover was melted, I presume the heat source was the pick-up sensor in the distributor. It got hot because the ignitor failed allowing too much current to flow thru the pick-up sensor. Consequently, I suspect both the ignitor and pick-up sensor are bad. Ignitor failed and took the pick-up sensor with it. Since you replaced the ignitor and you still don't get a spark, that kinda confirms the pick-up is bad too. Hopefully, you can replace just the pick-up with having to replace the whole distributor. I think you can. ?????

To check the coil, disconnect the ignitor from the - terminal of the coil, put 12 volts on the + terminal, hook up your test spark plug directly to the coil like you did before, take a jumper wire and momentarily ground the - terminal on the coil. You should get spark when you remove the wire from ground.

Give me a call, I can explain it better,

Jon, I think you're right.

Ed

 

[Devilmans Hand]

i foresee installing the fj60 dizzy/coil/ignitor that i got. Does anyone have a dented side cover that they'd buy/sell/or trade for a non dented side cover?

 

[Devilmans Hand]

ok, looks like i can maybe put the pickup sensor from my fj60 dizzy into my small cap dizzy for now, then swap in the fj60 dizzy later if i want.

Taken from Coolermans website
"78-80 small cap distributors have nylon(?) plastic bushings for the advance weights, the same pickup as the later ones (only difference in the two part numbers is about 1" longer wire leads for the 81-87 ones) and doesnt require the side cover swap."
Dizzy FAQ

 

[Devilmans Hand]

Cruiser is home and got there under its own power.
Fyi, the fj60 pickup fits in place of the '78 dizzy pickup.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

BTW, I let my buddy drive my cruiser around. Think we have an Audi convert to a fj40. He was going to buy a sport bike, but maybe a trail 40 instead.

 

[John Smith]

Cruiser is home and got there under its own power.
Fyi, the fj60 pickup fits in place of the '78 dizzy pickup.

Glad to hear you got it back home; good troubleshooting.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

Well, I replaced my assumed dead '78 igniter with a fj60 igniter and can't get any spark after a Carb rebuild. I'm getting fuel, but no measurable spark with my crappy Sears sparktester. I got home with a borrowed fj40 1978 coil/igniter. I also rebuilt my Carb under the 'ass'umption that the fj60 igniter would work, so I've got a slight addition of error. That shouldn't matter if I pour gas straight down the Carb though.
Suppose ill switch my sparkplugs out and recheck all my connections.
Ed, if you're around I could use your brain some evening soon.

I'm getting another igniter from a '78 and spare dizzy from a guy in Richmond sometime soon, but that is never soon enough.

Any ideas? The fj60 igniter has only one wire from the ignition instead of the two wires in the Loom for the '78 plug. Could this be a factor? Anyone else here use a fj60 igniter on a '78 fj40?

 

[bkfj40]

I've always been under the assumption that the coil and igniter need to be used as a set....are you mixing the old coil and the fj60 ignitor?

 

[Devilmans Hand]

I've always been under the assumption that the coil and igniter need to be used as a set....are you mixing the old coil and the fj60 ignitor?

nope. I'm using the fj60 coil and igniter.


can someone scan and post their fj60 FSM dealing with the coil and igniter?

I just changed my plugs to rule out fouled up plugs as why it isnt firing. At the moment i don't have anyone to crank the engine while i check for spark at the coil, dizzy, or spark plugs.

I'll try and screw with it all in the morning when its not so humid

 

[Devilmans Hand]

now i'm curious what that second wire in the plug from the loom is for. I'd assume the larger gauge is the 12volts from the ignition switch since its hot when ignition switch is in the on position, but there is a second smaller wire that connects into the plug as well. The threads where people have switched over to a fj60 coil/igniter to not address the extra plug...so i've found so far at least.



Installing a FJ60 Dizzy

coolermans install link.



Anyone ever use a minitruck type igniter? I'm wondering what the price of those are compared to the cruiser ones. Used mechanical parts are ok, but i very much dislike using used electrical components.

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Sam, not being much help to you here, sorry, but are you going to pursue the gm solid state ignitor you showed a few posts ago? Ed should easily be able to troubleshoot for you... That way, no more toyota ignitor to hassle with.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

I may try that once I confirm a dead fj60 initer, but I have another 1978 igniter on the way.
I'm hesitant to use the GM hei ignition control module after my buddy, who used to be a Cadillac mechanic, expressed his hate for the hei components.
Ed could probably look at it and it would be fixed.
Ill have to find his number.

Thanks for the igniter info Dan. It would be interesting to know what year igniters are serviceable.

*just tried gm igniter and could not get truck to fire up. I'm prob tarded though. anyone have any tips for testing for spark by myself? any way i could rig up an audible signal to let me know if i'm getting high voltage juice out of the coil? If i rig up some really long test leads for my multimeter, could i test the outgoing plug from the igniter to see if i'm getting a series of 1 and 0 (ones and zeros)? Would that work w/o being hooked up to the pickup sensor?