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Old 03-29-2014, 03:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcowan View Post
Oddly enough, I'v heard of and experienced the center electrode in the distributor cap leaving for another dimension. I'v heard of it on MSD's, and I'v experienced it on a Mallory.

When I had a distributor, I carried a spare cap, rotor, and module everywhere; along with the tools needed to replace them in the same bag.

The ammeter is probably working correctly. What it measures is the amount of amps produced above or below the required amount. An alternator only produces as many amps as is required - no more and no less. If you had a 250A alternator in a car that needs 35A, it's only going to produce 35A. The meter will read zero, because that's all that is needed. It essentially measures over and under production of electricity.

That's why most people install a volt meter, it gives you a better idea of what's going on with the charging system.
Poor connection from the leads to the cap is generally the culprit, plus moisture ingress.
Coupled with large rotor/terminal gap, low or no carbon brush tension etc makes the ignition system work closer to available voltage, (less reserve).

Voltmeters all the way for me.
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