squonk 44,386 #1 Posted Monday at 10:00 PM I'm working on a K161. Mounting it on my run stand and I notice right off the bat the wire to the points is on the bat terminal of the coil. so I move it. Crank it over and no spark. I investigate the points and they don't look horrible but I clean them up, check the gap and verify they open and close with an ohmmeter. I smell something burnt but I do not see anything black or melted. Try again and still no spark. So I pull the coil out and look it over. The primary ohmage is lower than normal but not much. Try another coil for the heck of it along with a new coil wire and plug. Still no spark. so cents everything but the points have been replaced I take them right off the engine and right away I can tell the spring is very weak compared to a new set plus a used set I have on a parts engine. Plus the points smell stinky burnt. Even though I see no evidence of burning anywhere. So another set it is going in. I just wonder if the heat weakened the spring? Has anyone run into this before? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,881 #2 Posted Monday at 10:07 PM Mike - do you have a bad condenser there, allowing arcing & more than normal heat?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 8,095 #3 Posted Monday at 10:09 PM Any possibility that the spring got shorted to ground? That could let a lot of current through the spring, heating it and maybe killing the temper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 44,386 #4 Posted Monday at 10:27 PM (edited) 20 minutes ago, ri702bill said: Mike - do you have a bad condenser there, allowing arcing & more than normal heat?? I replaced the condenser. My meter that tests capacitance is at work and I plan on testing the old one tomorrow. Edited Monday at 10:28 PM by squonk 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 44,386 #5 Posted Monday at 10:30 PM 19 minutes ago, 8ntruck said: Any possibility that the spring got shorted to ground? That could let a lot of current through the spring, heating it and maybe killing the temper. Didn't see anything but that wire on the wrong side of the coil would have put constant voltage to the points with the key on. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 18,565 #6 Posted Tuesday at 12:20 AM 1 hour ago, squonk said: Didn't see anything but that wire on the wrong side of the coil would have put constant voltage to the points with the key on. I'm guessing you may have it Mike. The heat from that direct short from the wire on the + side of the coil heated that spring. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites