how to tell if your points or condensor is bad?

[chattyrona]

Can someone assist us in telling us how to tell if it could be our points or condensor thats bad? This is the 1957 johnson seahorse 35hp. Thanks so much.

 

[iwombat]

Re: how to tell if your points or condensor is bad?

Points just get worn until there's not a good contact plate left. They usually wear on one side so that when they close there's only a tip making contact instead of two solid flat plates. If you've still got nice flat pads on the points they're probably okay. If your points are charred and burned you're probably due for a condenser.

But, why bother making the distinction? Just replace the set.

 

[byacey]

Re: how to tell if your points or condensor is bad?

A bad condenser will also create quite a weaker spark as well. Make sure the points are clean and free from oil. Many points get changed unnecessarily due to contamination of oil, dirt and oxide on the contacts.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: how to tell if your points or condensor is bad?

Points and condensers are SO cheap, ya junk'em...P+S..(thats plain and simple)
..then move on to the next suspect item

 

[F_R]

Re: how to tell if your points or condensor is bad?

Even new points sometimes have a film of oxidation on them that prevents proper contact. You check them with an ohmmeter that is capable of reading less than one ohm. Do you have one and know how to use it? You can also use it to check the resistances of the coil windings and spark plug wires. And if it's an analog meter, you can do a crude condenser test too. However, there also are digital meters with a capacitor test function and they will show actual capacitance in mfd's. But a digital without capacitor test function won't tell much about condensers.