41 P-11--question

[rlovette]

My P-11 won't start--has new plugs..and wires..and I've tried putting gas in the carb---still no dice. Pulled a plug wire today..and had a friend hold it near the block while I cranked---no spark. The coil is the orignial (still a 6v positive ground system)--in firewall. It gets warm when you leave the switch on. On a 6v universal coil, does the negative side hook to the ignition...while the positive would go to the distributor? The car was running pretty well until this fall--then it became hard to start---and now it won't hit at all. I'm guessing the points could also be a problem.

Thanks

Richard Lovette

Elizabethton TN

[RobertKB]

The coil is the orignial (still a 6v positive ground system)--in firewall. It gets warm when you leave the switch on. I'm guessing the points could also be a problem.

It's not a good idea to leave the switch on because if your points are closed you can easily burn them out after a short period of time. They have a current running through them until you turn the ignition off. This could be your problem. I'm sure others will have some thoughts also.

[Oldguy48]

If the coil becomes warm when the ignition switch is left on, it sounds like the primary circuit is energized all the time, and not making and breaking as the points open and close. Could be a shorted wire that connects to the points, a shorted condenser, or misadjustment of the points.

[T120]

as per this post - points don't open = no spark

[Normspeed]

Hi Richard, the + terminal goes to the distributor on the pos ground cars.

I'd gap the points at .020", make sure no wires are grounding inside the distributor, toss in a fresh condenser if you have one handy, and if that doesn't cure it, swap out the coil with the modern one and see if it runs. Make sure all your plug wires and coil wire are firmly snapped into the distributor cap.