| MICHV8 | -- 04-04-2020 @ 6:29 AM |
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My 39 suddenly had no spark so I just guessed it was the condenser and replaced it with a NAPA ECH IH200 which was much longer than what was on the car. I was concerned that the tube might contact the distributor post and cause problems, but the car starts so I am happy in my ignorance. However, I remember Bob said he always carries a spare condenser with alligator clips and I started wondering if having two on the car would cause a problem if the suspected bad condenser started working while the emergency condenser was clipped on?
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| TomO | -- 04-04-2020 @ 10:18 AM |
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You should remove the bad condenser before installing the spare condenser. Condenser failure can be one of two modes, shorted or open. If the condenser is shorted, installing another condenser across it will not solve anything as the electrician will take the easiest path to ground, through the shorted condenser. If the condenser is open, the parallel connection would cause the capacitance to double if the bad condenser started to work. This could happen with a bad solder job on the grounding tab of the condenser. Doubling the capacitance would cause the points to pit, but they have already pitted due to the failure of the installed condenser. the IH200 is the wrong condenser for your car. Go to Napa online and select the year of the Ford that matches your distributor and get the correct condenser. Check your points for pitting and correct dwell. Tom
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| supereal | -- 04-07-2020 @ 3:26 PM |
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I carry a spare condenser in my "road kit". I put a condenser in a large plastic pill bottle and have a pair of clip leads attached. Condensers usually go open, rather than short, so the emergency condenser can be clipped between ground and the terminal on the coil to get you home.
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| JayChicago | -- 04-08-2020 @ 2:32 AM |
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Whats the symptom of a failed condenser? No spark? Weak spark? Or does it depend on what type of failure?
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| GM | -- 04-08-2020 @ 12:25 PM |
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You have the IH-200 installed wrong?? I use the mounting clamp that came with the IH-200 and use that to hold the condenser under the screw on the drivers side of the coil that holds the coil on the distributor. Screw the lug on the end of the condenser wire onto the brass tab on the bottom of the coil. You shouldn't need a spare. In the years since I introduced the IH-200 I never heard of a failure. Maybe I will hear of some know?? A spare is a good thing to have but a condenser can dry out in time. G.M.
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| GM | -- 04-08-2020 @ 12:51 PM |
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Jay the symptoms of a bad condenser are similar to a bad coil. Usually they work when they are cold and not when hot. Skip requests people to send several old condensers in with their coils when they have the coil rebuilt. He heats them with a heat gun until he can't hold them with 2 fingers more than 2 seconds. Then with an anolog volt ohm meter, this is a meter with a needle not digital put it in a high ohm scale and touch one lead from the meter to body of the condenser and the other lead the terminal. Now switch the leads and the meter should jump up maybe 3/4". Keep reversing the leads and the meter will slowly come down and go back up. The condenser stores voltage. You can see the voltage from the meter charges the condenser, as it shows each time you change leads. G.M.. This message was edited by GM on 4-8-20 @ 1:03 PM
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