[Spridgets] Fwd: Observations on Troubleshooting On the Road

[Kevin Valentine]

Gary,

Here is something I wrote back in 2012......   It still applies ;)


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kevin Valentine <kevinv1275 at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 11:17 PM
Subject: Observations on Troubleshooting On the Road



Hey ALL,

I have recently had several occasions (three phone call in the past 5 days)
where it was necessary to troubleshoot problems with Spridgets which had
stopped running abruptly at very inconvenient times.  The following
checklist may come in handy for those of you who may find yourself in this
situation and don't mind trouble shooting things yourself.

Given that the mechanicals of your engine are working properly, you need
three things to keep the internal combustion engine running.  Fuel Air, and
Spark.

In most cases Air is not the problem, unless you have let your air cleaners
get so dirty that no air can pass thru them or there is some foreign object
sucked into your air cleaner(s).

If you find yourself at the side of the road, here are a few things you can
check;

The disclaimer is; If you don't feel comfortable performing any of the
following checks, use your cell phone and either call AAA or call someone
to come and help you.

I always do checks for spark BEFORE I do the checks for Fuel delivery.  You
don't want any stray fuel vapors anywhere near an area where you will be
creating a spark.

Note;  More than once, I have witnessed an A-series distributor that has
dislodged itself from the hole in the engine block due to a distributor
clamp that was not tightened properly.  Checking to make sure the
distributor is held securely in the clamp would be well advised before you
check for other electrical problems.

Another important note;  Before you check electrical connections under the
bonnet of you car, MAKE CERTAIN YOU HAVE NO FUEL LEAKS.

To check for spark.  First check for spark at the points.  Remove the
distributor cap and watch the points while you turn the engine over with
the starter.  Make certain the ignition is switched on if you have a
separate switch for the ignition on your car.  If you can not see the
points while you are turning the engine over with the starter (you are by
yourself and have no one to help you),  switch on the ignition and flick
the points with a small screwdriver (or your finger) to see if you get a
spark when the points are separated.   If you have no spark at the points,
check for loose wires to the coil and/or distributor.   The problem may be
in the electrical wiring at your ignition switch.  You can hot-wire the
coil with a short piece of wire.  (I carry a jump wire with alligator clips
on each end).  On a negative ground car, connect the  jump wire to the
positive side of the coil and to the positive post on the battery and check
for spark at the points again.  If you still have no spark at the points,
the problem may either be the condenser or the coil.

If you have spark at the points, - next check for spark at one of the spark
plugs.  The easiest way to do this is to remove one of the spark plugs and
with the ignition wire for that spark plug wire attached to the plug, hold
the spark plug in contact with the engine and turn the engine with the
starter.  You should see a spark at the gap in the spark plug.  If you have
spark at the points but no spark at the plug you may have a faulty
distributor cap or rotor.  If you have a spark at the spark plug, it's time
to check for fuel supply.  Put the distributor cap back on and re-install
the spark plug.  You don't want any stray sparks while you are checking for
fuel supply.

To check for fuel delivery.  Disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and
activate the fuel pump.  (On cars with electric pumps, turning on the
ignition will accomplish this.  On cars with mechanical fuel pumps you will
need to turn the engine with the starter).   If you have no fuel being
delivered at the fuel line you disconnected from the carb, you may either
be; out of fuel,  your fuel pump stopped working, or you have a blockage in
the tank or at the fuel filter.  Another possibility is a broken fuel line
between the tank and the engine.

I hope you never need to do any of the trouble shooting mentioned above,
but if you do, I hope this helps.

Kevin
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