Need some 2F help

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onemanarmy

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Apr 26, 2010
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Location
Raleigh, NC
I've been dealing with a no start issue on my 55 for a week now, and its got me stumped.

I've been asking for and getting help from the 40/55 section, and have done some troubleshooting....
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/2f-ignition-updgrade.861812/

Long story short, it ran great, didn't miss a beat, until one morning I was going to work and it wouldn't fire.

-Got gas in it
-gas is getting to carb
-carb bowl has gas in it
-new spark plugs (badly needed, but the old ones didn't give trouble)
-checked points gap (I think its ok?)
-took coil/ignitor off fender and cleaned connections, but no go
-checked for spark by touching spark plug to frame while cranking, but got no spark
-tested various connections with multi-meter.....I think I'm getting power where it needs to be
-looked for broken/chaffed wires near steering column

But still won't crank. Will turn over and over great, but not even a hint of wanting to fire.

Any 2F gurus wanna guide me in the right direction? I'd hate to take it somewhere, and don't even know who to take it to.

Thanks
 
Is there voltage at the coil? If there is and no spark at the plugs that would isolate the problem to the distributor. Usual suspects at the distributor are points and condenser. If no voltage at coil I would inspect the wiring to the coil. Coil itself could be bad but they usually last forever. My backyard redneck .02. Maybe an expert will chime in @krzyabncanuck.
 
Check your fusible link at the battery. Sometime they are blown and dont look like it. Also the condenser could be a reasong why u dont have spark. But i am not a professional either. Just bumping the thread
 
Could be the ignitor - borrow one and try it. I used to carry one in the glove box until I converted to an early distributor with a Petronix and a standard coil. then I carried a spare Petronix...if you run a V8 w/an HEI then you should carry the HEI module. All are easy to swap out.

Ignitor failure got me a few times.

Anyone got an Ignitor he can borrow?
 
Check for spark at the coil wire where it goes into the distributor. clean off a spot where you can ground to the motor with a wire brush. This will tell you if there is a problem in the distributor and if the ignitor is OK.
 
kulangot said:
Check for spark at the coil wire where it goes into the distributor. clean off a spot where you can ground to the motor with a wire brush. This will tell you if there is a problem in the distributor and if the ignitor is OK.
Click to expand...

Got your message earlier today. Will do some more checking tomorrow.

Thanks again.
 
Had some luck over the weekend.....@fort knox came by with his coil/resistor/ignitor from his 77 and we installed it. My 55 fired right up.

So now I know where the problem is.

Anyone have any input on the best way to replace/upgrade parts to get away from the resistor/ignitor but yet still be reliable? A new coil is cheap, and that may not be the problem, but I'll get one. Internally resisted I think? Can the ignitor be bypassed? I want as few things under the hood to go bad. I plan on keeping the factory distributor setup, with the points (will get some points for spares) unless it is recommended to go with a electronic distributor?

Thanks
 
I have a spare ignition module from my '78. I was planning to hang on to it, just in case, because I know they are expensive. It was replaced in the late '90s IIRC. Check the cross reference and see if it will work for your piggie and I'll convince my parts hoarding self to part with it.

ETA - I have my '78 dizzy as well. It was replaced at the same time, but there is a bit of internal rust. Ran great when pulled.
 
well that is a generous offer.....and I know they are expensive, and NLA, which is why I want to get away from it. I'll check and see if it would even work.

I'm hoping its a bad coil, which I have yet to single out. If it is bad, then that can be dealt with pretty easy. I hope to get a chance soon to bypass the ignitor and resistor and see if it cranks and runs. If that is the case, then I need to figure out how to make that setup reliable, it's hard to get a straight answer......everyone does things differently and has their own opinion.

Since I'm here....and hypotheitcally...say I bought a 1977 2F with a great distributor and points setup already installed, but nothing else....what would I buy to make it run? I think I need an internally resisted coil (MSD or the like), but what else? Do I need something to replace the ignitor? Or are there parts that are just needed due to the points? Would the best thing be to go with Pertronix to replace the points? What is needed in addition to that? Just a new, higher power coil? I'd like to see some setups with part numbers/descriptions so I can get this thing going.

Thanks
 
Sounds like bad coil to me. I used to have a '76 International Scout and the advice I got was buy a six pack of coils and a case of oil. I learned this after weeks of troubleshooting. Good luck.
 
well I want to buy a new coil, but can't get a clear answer on the 12V vs. 6V coil.

It seems that an aftermarket 12V coil is what is most common (internally resisted) so I would just eliminate the external resistor and be good.

But doing a search here on Mud gets responses all over the place.

Some run an aftermarket coil with everything else stock, some have the Trollhole distributor, some have a Pertronix, some eliminate the ignitor and resistor, some just run the ignitor, some get parts and it never works right again.....and no one can really speak to the longevity of any of it, mainly due to the fact that these Cruisers aren't driven that much.

Also, the stock coil pushes out 18,000V ( so Ive read) and the aftermarket 12V coils push out 40,000V. What will I fry if I go that route? Anything needed to be added to the system for reliabilty? Who knows.

The majority of the threads just die, with no resolution. Time for experimentation I guess.
 
Soooo....I'm looking into the idea of adding the Pertronix kit to my ignition and distributor.....however, the first question eneryone asks is what the number is on my Nipponsenso distributor, as to cross reference and get me the right part. I appreciate that, but I can't find a number on it, at least not when opening the hood and looking around the distributor. Does it have to come out? Trying to avoid that. Where should I be looking? I'm thinking that 1977 was a transition year, so someone at Pertronix (or a retailer) should know which cap and rotor I have by looking at pics? Has anyone done a Pertronix setup on a 1977?

Thanks
 
@onemanarmy are you in Raleigh? I have a bunch of parts from the 2F I took out. You are welcome to come pick through the pile if you need stuff for trouble shooting.
 
ontherxs said:
@onemanarmy are you in Raleigh? I have a bunch of parts from the 2F I took out. You are welcome to come pick through the pile if you need stuff for trouble shooting.
Click to expand...

I am in Raleigh, and I appreciate the offer.

However, your 2F things are from your 60, right?

I've been told, right or wrong, that the 60 coil and igniter (the parts that I believe are suspect) won't jive with my 1977 2F. The 60's don't have points....and the igniter may be wired different? Is what I've been told.

Does this mesh with what you know?

Thanks
 
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