No spark to distributor

Hi Thomas,

Just so I understand what you are saying, you have power coming out of the coil but you do not have power/spark coming out of the distributor?

You said you have power coming out of the coil but no spark to the distributor. This means the wire from the coil to the distributor is not delivering the spark. However, I suspect you don't have it coming out of the distributor.

Take a look at this attachment. It explains what is happening in your system which is a pretty standard distributor ignition system.

If you have no spark then I suspect your issue is the pickup coil which takes your primary spark from the coil and sends it to the igniter where it breaks the signal which creates your high voltage that the distributor sends to the proper plug.

If I am correct, you may be able to get these part individually (pickup, igniter, distributor) but sometimes your only option is to replace the entire distributor which will come with all of the components.

Yes. It appears there is an issue with the distributor itself. You could return them but most will not take them back once they are installed. However, it is not a bad thing that you replaced them already. Basically, you are giving the engine a complete tune up.

Did the distributor come with a new igniter? The igniter is what is responsible for interrupting the primary spark from the coil (which you said you had) and allowing the distributor to send the high voltage spark to the plugs.

Clearly we are missing something. It may help if you get a video of where you are getting spark and then how you are determining there is no spark coming out of the distributor. Seeing it may help me identify the issue.

So you do have spark going to the spark plugs? I thought you did not have spark coming from the distributor. If you have spark and fuel, then as long as timing is correct and you have compression, then the engine should start. Let me know and yes, please send the video of what your set up looks like and we can go from there. Thanks

Sorry you are having issues. Your internet signal will definitely effect the ability to upload the file. We are required to communicate on here not only for privacy reasons but also so that once we figure this out, anyone else who has this issue will be able to see what the solution was. Speaking of which, I will have your number removed because this is a public thread and we don't want your number published to the public.

That is great. That engine sounds out of time. You can hear it catching on one cylinder which is typical of an engine that is too far advanced.

So if you said you now have spark and fuel, I would retard the timing a bit. Basically, what I would do is loosen your holding nut for the distributor just enough that it holds it in place but you can move the distributor by hand. This will keep it from moving when you don't want it too and keep you from moving it too much at once. Then retard it just a bit and crank it again. More than likely you will hear a difference in the engine. It may not fire but if it sounds different then you are on the right path. Retard it a little more and I bet it will fire. It may not run well until you tune it in but this is just a feel game until the engine is rolling over smooth. Then tighten everything down and you are good to go.

Let me know what you find and we can go from there. Thanks

Okay. While it is charging just go back over your plug wires and make sure they are correct. Going to the right cylinders and going around the distributor the right way. I have done that before where the rotor spins in the opposite direction then I thought. Worst case pull the cap and crank the engine to see which way the rotor spins and then you put the plugs in firing order going that direction.