I have a clark CFY50B with the 4 cyl continental "F4-162" engine. I recently had a starter burn out on it so I took it to a local electric shop to have it rebuilt (same shop that rebuilt it the last time, last starter lasted 15 years). I also replaced the battery and battery cables because it needed to be done, looked like original cables from 1960 when this thing rolled out of the assembly line.
Everything is great and it cranks but wont start. I found in trying to test for spark, that if i disconnect the middle wire off the distributor and put a spark plug in it that it only sparks when i turn the key from on to off. There is no spark when cranking, I can actually get it to sputter if i crank for a bit and then repeatedly turn the key back and forth on-off-on-off-on-off ect.
I have never has such a wierd electrical issue on anything, so am trying all my options to find someone that may have run into this. Is it possible that something is wrong in the starter selenoid?
One other theory is that cranking is depleting the system of enough power to fire the ignition, but im by passing the distributor so everything should be okay there. The starter has two small screw terminals one that says P and one that says S. 12v switched wire to the S terminal to get it to start. Is it possible there should be a jumper from the other small screw terminal to the coil or somewhere to give it proper power?
Again All wires, including battery cables, are new except 12v wire to starter from keyswitch, but everything tests out okay. Everything is wired the way that it was working before as far as I can remember. Can anyone help me out here?
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Did you ever resolve the distributor problem? I have the same problem with a clark c500 - continental engine
It is indeed an updated electronic distributor, had to get a custom made pedestal one from a company called genesse products. I counted out the distributor because im testing spark before the distributor as far as i know. Im disconnecting the plug wire that runs from coil to dist and sticking a plug in the distributor end of it. I was under the impression that is essentially testing everything before the dist???
Could it still be the distributor causing issues? I guess i will try throwing a jumper wire from starter to the coil and see if it changes anything. dont think its the key switch as i can jump the terminals on the key switch with a screwdriver and no difference in ignition.
Does it have a updated electronic distributor or the original points? If electronic, the module in distributor could be bad. If it still has points maybe the key switch is bad and not supplying power to the coil while cranking. The P terminal is for supplying extra power to the coil while cranking, but I don't think that is the problem.
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