Jarrid,
I always made it a point to replace the condensers (capacitor nowadays)
when I did the points but as the car is now 45 years old, the right ones
for this
car are not readily available at your local auto parts store so we sometimes
just polish the points and continue on our way, not replacing the condensers.
I will now make it a point to replace the condensers at least once every 10
years whether they need to be replaced or not! :) But you also realize
that
as long as you carry an extra in the glove box, that this part is
quaranteed not
to fail!
Regards,
Bob
At 09:13 AM 10/20/1998 -0700, you wrote:
>
> ----------
>From: Bob Hamilton
>
>>Paul,
>>
>> I was very surprised that it didn't as it sounded just like a 12
>gauge
>>shotgun went off! I think it is a bit louder now as I the baffles are
>>probably all
>>bent out of place but it is sure running fine again. How often do you ever
>>hear
>>of condensers going bad? Never! This is the first in my 45 years of working
>on
>>older cars but now I know what the symptoms indicate and it won't happen
>>again.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Bob
>
>Condensors (capacitors) are little more than foil seperated by dielectric
>paper, wrapped on a reel. The part seems simple enough, but as the
>high primary dump voltage is applied to the condensor, the dielectric
>expands then contracts as the condensor discharges back into the coil.
>This results in a small amount of friction that eventually kills the
>dielectric
>which results is an intermittant short to the chassis.
>The failure of the condensor (or points) is engine revolutions based
>and not time based.
>
>Back in the old days, it was reccomended that you change the
>condensor with the points, and as long as you do that, the condensors
>dont give you grief, so they seem not to be a weak link.
>
>Replace your condensor each time you replace the points, and
>keep a spare of each for good measure.
>
>
>Jarrid Gross
>
>
=========================================================
Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton, Waverley, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Man of Many Sunbeams - Alpine, Drophead and Saloon 1953-1954
Home Page: http://www.navnet.net/~hamilton/index.html - REVISED!!!
E-Mail: hamilton(at)navnet.net
=========================================================
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