Still trying to figure out why the Sprite died in mid-stride. Symptom: no
spark at plugs, plenty of fuel to carbs.
Following along the BL Workshop Manual diagnostics:
Wiring -- ignition switch to coil:
With key switch on, connect voltmeter between (+) of coil and good
earth: this gave me +12.8 V -- CORRECT
Coil primary winding:
Disconnect cable from coil (-) negative terminal, connect voltmeter
between the (-) terminal
and good earth, turn key switch on: this gave +12.8 V -- CORRECT
Distributor points, LT wiring and earth:
Reconnect coil leads, connect voltmeter between (-) negative terminal
of coil and and good earth,
remove dizzy cap, switch on ignition, and held open the points: this
gave +12.8 V -- CORRECT
Coil secondary winding and capacitor:
Pulled the coil HT lead from the dizzy cap, removed dizzy ccap,
switched on ignition,
held the HT lead about 1/4 inch from good earth and flicked the points
open: this gave a good,
bright blue spark between the HT lead and the engine block -- CORRECT
Rotor arm insulation:
Switched on the ignition, held the coil HT lead 1/8 inch away from
rotor arm tip, flicked the points open: this gave a weak, yellow spark.
--NOT CORRECT
This suggests that the rotor arm insulation is shot and the rotor arm must
be renewed. COULD THIS BE THE PROBLEM? The only reason I wonder is that
there was absolutely no warning that the insulation was going bad, nor does
the rotor arm look bad at all. Plus, this is a relatively new rotor arm,
having about 7,000 miles on it.
If anyone has other diagnostics, please pass them along and I'll test them
IF a new rotor arm doesn't solve my problem.
Thanks to all who replied. I really appeciate it. And, if I hadn't had
meetings that started at 8:30 this morning and ended at 9 tonight, I
probably couldlve solved this today with your help. Terrible how work gets
in the way of important things!
Jeff
Jeff Boatright __o_\__ '65 Austin-Healey Sprite
http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~jboatri/sprite/sprite.html
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