Dead in St Louis, no power to coil?

[mausersmth]

On the road this morning, bringing to Cruiser home it died out on me. Local shop says it's ignition but their tech is out until monday. What do I check?
Call me at 443-798-4053, please!

Charles Eck
Essex, MD

'57 Commander 4 door sedan
'64 Cruiser
'66 Ford F-250
'66 Ford F-100
'53 John Deere 50
'41 John Deere H All-Fuel
'41 John Deere B All-Fuel

Studebakers were made to drive! (Besides, they don't get lost as easy in the Wal-Mart parking lot!)

[Alan]

First thing I would look for is the ballast resistor or the pink resistance wire, whichever it has. And where are you at? There should be someone close by that can give a hand.

[curt]

I called Arnold and he said the starter turns.I told him to try and run a wire from the + terminal of the battery to the small wire on the coil that does not run to the distributor. If it now runs then it is the 'pink'wire. Question, how long can he go with 12 volts to the points before burning the points???[?][?][?][?]

[N8N]

quite a ways, JUST SO LONG AS HE NEVER LEAVES THE KEY ON WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[PlainBrownR2]

What's the situation on the distributor? If the distributor was a recent rebuild or recently tinkered with, a little oxidation on the rubbing block will cause the block to rub down to where the points close and the car won't run. I found this after we rebuilt a distributor and set off for the '02 SB meet. Ran great for 100 miles until we got off the expressway, then it started having severe power loss. After Myer set my points gap back to factory spec, it ran like a top(It also gave me an excuse to get a Pertronix setup).
I had one other time the car had quit at a truck stop, however that was due to the positive terminal wasn't completely seating on the post, so it was giving as much juice to the electric fuel pump.

[img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201950%202r5%20Studebaker%20Pickup%20with%20turbocharger/P1000137-1.jpg[/img=left][img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201950%202r5%20Studebaker%20Pickup%20with%20turbocharger/P1000145-1.jpg[/img=left][IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=right]
[IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201964%20Studebaker%20Commander%20R2/P1010168.jpg[/IMG=right]

[Lark Parker]

You might also look at the rotor in the distributor. If it has the type with the built in resistor that can burn out and it will look burnt or be almost gone. I made a road repair by stuffing tinfoil from a gum wrapper in there to make a resistor and finished the trip.

While the dist cap is off -- crank the engine to see that the rotor turns.

Modern mechanics might not look for such things.

Lark Parker

Just an innocent possum strolling down life's highway.

[jlmccuan]

Curt, is it Arnold or Charles? I called the number and asked for Charles, since that was the name in the post, but you say you talked to Arnold. At any rate, if no one closer comes to the rescue, I'll head to St Louis in the morning with some tools and ignition parts and see if we can get it running.

EDIT: I see from the profile that it lists his name as Arnold, but the signature is Charles. Guess I'll find out when I meet him. BTW his gal and girls are getting on a plane home in the morning, so it will be just him and the car stranded.


Jim

____1966 Avanti II RQA 0088_______________1963 Avanti R2 63R3152____________Rabid Snail Racing

[curt]

He seemed slow to respond to Arnold,but he was dealing with getting people with him alternate transportation home. I picked Arnold's name off the registration profile.Most ignition problems are road fix items. I lost the entire main-front wiring harness. Hot wired and drove home. I ran 12 volts to the coil and she ran 50 miles without burning the points.

[StudeRich]

Finding and installing a replacement resister should not be any harder than going to the nearest Auto Parts Store for that and some 16 ga. wire. That is the best way to deal with a dead resister wire on a '64V. Most stock the one that is standard equipment all Chrysler products.


StudeRich at Studebakers Northwest -Ferndale,WA

[buddymander]

On straight 12 volts; about an hour. If the points are closed while the ignition is on; same story. If the points are OPEN with the ignition on; indefinitely.

[mausersmth]

I made it home!

Jim came by yesterday and found the shorted out points that caused the problem and got her running again! He also helped me figure out a few other things about the car. If not for his help I think I'd still be out there!

BTW, I'm ordering the Pentronics module this week!

Charles Eck (Arnold Charles Eck, Jr.)
Essex, MD

'57 Commander 4 door sedan
'64 Cruiser
'66 Ford F-250
'66 Ford F-100
'53 John Deere 50
'41 John Deere H All-Fuel
'41 John Deere B All-Fuel

Studebakers were made to drive! (Besides, they don't get lost as easy in the Wal-Mart parking lot!)

[Mark57]

quote:Originally posted by mausersmth

BTW, I'm ordering the Pentronics module this week!

Charles Eck

Let us know how you make out. [8)]

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island

The NW Overdrive Tour in Parksville, BC
May 23 & 24, 2009; check it out at -
http://sdcvi.shawwebspace.ca/</h5>