I have a Clarklift that has always been a very reliable machine for me. I have not used it in a couple of years because I have not needed to stack seed in the barn that it is in.
I know I needed to use it this year so I bought and installed a brand new battery for it. After struggling to get it started, I checked the spark and found there was none.
I checked the plugs and they looked OK. There was no spark at any of the plugs. I looked at the cap and rotor and both look OK. I had another GM coil and coil wire handy, so I swapped them out. I am fairly certain the GM coil would be OK because it is a Delco distributor. Is that correct?
I am not certain what to check next? How do I test the power that goes into the coil? Should I buy a brand new coil? How do I check the resistor (and where is it)?
Lastly, I am also a little concerned because none of the gauges or gauge lights are coming.... but unfortunately, I don't recall if they come on before.
The model is a C20-B with a 4 cyl engine and delco distributor.
Any help would be appreciated.
One more thing, it turns over just fine. Lots of power to the starter.
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If this has point system check to make sure the points are making contact to distributor
Also check where wire goes into distributor from coil sometimes the wire will get rubbed and short out against the distributor as the points open and close the coil fires and rotor distributes the spark to designated plug
Sounds like it is possibly in distributor
Also make sure dist is grounded to engine
Good luck sir
HI, Thank you for getting back with me. I finally had a chance to get into this a little more this afternoon, so I am hoping you are still with me. I did the tests you suggested. I checked power at the + side of the coil and the test light comes on. I cranked it and the test light was on, a tiny bit dimmer, and a very faint flash.
Then, I tested the wire coming out of the coil by taking it off the distributor and putting a screwdriver in it and placing it very close to the block. I spun the motor and did not see any spark. I tried a different coil wire and got the same result.
I also ran an additional jumper wire from the negative of the coil, to the post on the distributor. I just want to make sure since the wire that was on there was a bit old.
Anyhow, it seems I am getting spark into the coil, but not out of. I am thinking its the coil? Would you concur? Or are there more tests I should do?
Hi, just wanted to let you know that I will be taking these steps and reporting back to you but it will be at least a few days, or maybe over the weekend. I see you are in PA, and the weather is probably similar to OH, but it's very cold right now and I would prefer not to get back into this until it's somewhere in the 30's.
Old work horse truck , first are you getting spark from coil when you ground coil wire ? If not then get a 12volt test light and install clip lead to neg of battery turn key to on position and touch positive post of test lead to positive post of coil you should see the test light light up if not you are not getting power to the coil or the truck them you would have to check for a blown fuses or a wire problem to key switch next if you are getting power to the coil then make sure you still have it when cranking. Get back to me after you do this.
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