Old tractor has no spark: points and condenser
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Applies to: Farmall Cub, Ford NAA/600/800 and other tractors with points ignition
Symptoms
- Cranks but won't fire
- Weak, yellow spark
- Dies when hot, restarts when cool
Why it happens
Burnt or pitted points, a gap that has closed up, or a failed condenser stop the coil from firing properly.
How to fix it
- Remove the distributor cap and turn the engine until the points are fully open.
- Clean or replace the points and set the gap with a feeler gauge.
- Replace the condenser at the same time.
- Check the cap, rotor and plug wires, then set the timing per the manual.
Tools and parts
- Feeler gauges
- Points and condenser
- Timing light
What the factory service manual covers
Ignition: point gap, dwell, timing spec and distributor service. The full procedure, specs and wiring diagrams are in the factory service manual for your machine.