[Fot] Mallory condenser problems

[TeriAnn Wakeman]

Scott Janzen wrote:
> What are the symptoms you are experiencing with condenser failure?

The failure seems to follow a logarithmic curve.  First it is an 
occasional misfire while driving along and just when I start thinking of 
buying some new media for my spark plug cleaner it starts acting like I 
have a badly clogged fuel filter or torn fuel pump diaphragm and the 
carbs are not getting near enough fuel and then it quickly progresses to 
seeming like the timing chain jumped a tooth.

First time it happened, I checked point gap, the cap rotor & plug wires, 
then I swapped in a new set of plugs, replaced the fuel filter then the 
fuel pump. Then drained out all the fuel (The condenser went bad right 
after I filled the fuel tank), blew out the fuel lines and added 
different fuel.  At wits end I replaced the condenser.  In decades of 
driving this was the first time I had ever had a condenser go bad on me 
and had no idea what the symptoms might be.

Now at the slightest miss I think condenser.  I find myself thinking 
about installing a high volume condenser dispenser, and how many I have 
to buy at a time to get a volume discount.

Will another brand of condenser work?  Do I need a special Mallory 
condenser or can I just go to my cheapo chain store & get something generic?

Please keep those suggestions coming.  Meanwhile I'll go out and sand 
the coating off the condenser I installed yesterday to replace the one I 
installed by the side of the road a few weeks ago.

Thanks

TeriAnn