Breaker points continuity
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 3
From: Morgan Hill, CA
That's what I thought. The base of the point grounds to the distributor housing if I'm looking at it right with a braided wire. And the negative leads, condenser get juice from coil. So if I am getting continuity with points open and closed...I've got a short/grounding issue. Maybe my wire braid is rubbing against something it shouldn't? I know about electronic points but I'm stubborn about getting it running before upgrading too much
Dan
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 3
From: Morgan Hill, CA
Ross,
A discharged capacitor that is attached to ground will look like a path to ground to a digital ohm-meter....for a couple of seconds, then it will charge up and appear to be an open circuit. Unless you have a buzz-box that is a circuit tester that uses an AC current....that will work normally. Also, I haven't been having much luck with the condensers/capacitors that I've been buying lately....it is very possible to have a shorted condenser causing problems.
The best practice is to isolate that points circuit from all of the external features for diagnosis. That way if the screws are shorting out the points it'd show up right away.
Dan
A discharged capacitor that is attached to ground will look like a path to ground to a digital ohm-meter....for a couple of seconds, then it will charge up and appear to be an open circuit. Unless you have a buzz-box that is a circuit tester that uses an AC current....that will work normally. Also, I haven't been having much luck with the condensers/capacitors that I've been buying lately....it is very possible to have a shorted condenser causing problems.
The best practice is to isolate that points circuit from all of the external features for diagnosis. That way if the screws are shorting out the points it'd show up right away.
Dan
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Lake City, Florida
an update...i went basic and did continuity test after disconnecting and reconnecting each component
points break there continuity as they should with negative leads connected to coil, condenser connected, but the moment i connect the positive wires from ignition switch to coil, i get this problem where i have continuity all over the points and distributor body even with points open.
working it out
points break there continuity as they should with negative leads connected to coil, condenser connected, but the moment i connect the positive wires from ignition switch to coil, i get this problem where i have continuity all over the points and distributor body even with points open.
working it out
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,303
Likes: 1,062
From: NM
I GREATLY prefer teat lights, too! 
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Should have been test , heck 
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,878
Likes: 50
From: Tennessee
I still prefer using a TEST light for these old systems . I sold My 73 VW with 408K on it . I did a lot of point testing and setting over the years ! Now my tractors and my 53 are all I own with points . I still break out the test lamp .
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