Wasted all my sparks on the outside of the engine

[superdave474]

Hello Don,

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

I've no spark. Wired the motor up this weekend per your initial startup instructions. I have to admit now that electricity is not my strong point, more of a hobby than a living. Could I have somehow damaged the coil by, say, touching the block with the lead going from the solenoid to the positive terminal on the coil? I imagine that if someone HAD done that, symptoms may include sparking and fizzing where the lead touched...maybe more than once...two or three times...

Performed coil test afterwards. Held distributor end of coil lead next to block while cranking, no spark. held same lead in same place as I opened points manually. No spark. Coil is new, less that 5 hours or so on it.

Thanks,
an anonoymous electrician

[Don Moyer]

Dave,

It sounds as though you're close to pronouncing the coil dead on arrival. You might double check to be sure you're holding 12 volts (dropping to 10 or so when the points close) as you open and close the points manually. This takes a third arm if you can find one.

Don