Rick Morrison wrote:
> Very weak spark to #1, (not enough to fire the timing light - Had to
> check the timing using #4).
> So far:
> 1. Installed new spark plug
> 2. installed new plug wire
> 3. Moved all wires on the distributor cap one position, and retimed
Try a new cap? Carbon tracks in the cap?
> I suspect the ignition amplifier or coil or both.
The amplifier is fairly quick to check. If the voltage
on the switched coil line is going from 0 to 12V and back,
it's working. It'll be less than 12 in a ballasted system,
but it'll go from 0 to something full rather abrubtly.
That's really all the ignition module does, so after that
it's another problem.
> The ignition seems to have been changed sometime in it's life time, as
> the amplifier (remote) is not Lucas (!), but seems to be some type of
> aftermarket unit, and the pickup etc in the dizzy does not resemble the
> manual in anyway. No brand markings on either.
Is it opto? Does it have the electric-eye and chopper blade
in the distributor? If so, it is a Crane/Allison system, they
seem to work ok. Check that it is installed properly with
respect to the ballast resistor. I am too unsure to state
either way, but I know some people have problems when first
installing EI systems because the ballast is either left in
or removed, and it should be the other way.
Also, there were two original LUCAS systems. One was
the EID with the big block on the side of the distributor. This
was notoriously bad, so they made the LUCAS CEI system with
the external box. I beleive the functional units in the
external box is a Delco part.
Anyways, is there a chance your manual is showing the
EID system, but that he has the CEI system installed? It
might be original, but failing.
--
Trevor Boicey
Ottawa, Canada
tboicey@brit.ca
http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/
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