123 Distributor. No spark!

[andrewh]

I do hope this was a good idea! I have just wired up the 123 and gone for the first start and no spark. I have run a spark tester in line between the plug and lead and no spark at all. I have set up the distributor at the correct static timing as per manual, got the leads connected to the brand new Lucas Sports Coil the correct way around and nothing. Of course it could be a faulty coil or 123 but can't help but yearn for a set of points to flick at this stage! Any ideas, I have packed up for the day now, and will resume tomorrow. I wonder if there is a way to check the 123?

[politeperson]

Do you get the green led light on the backing plate when the cap is off and you manually rotate the unit?

[chrisfell]

1 Check the rotor arm points to the lead for cylinder 6 at TDC.
2.Then check all, the leads are correctly ordered around the dizzie cap.
3.Check the timing again per the 123 instructions.
4. Check the wires to the coil are correct.

On my 123 dizzie I found a problem at 1 - the rotor arm was pointing to cyl 1.
If it transpires that the dizzie is 180 degrees out when compared to the original, you can alter the drive shaft to suit.
Or move the plugs wires around accordingly.

[andrewh]

Thanks for the replies, however to be clear there is no Spark. Its not about timing. It would spark whether the leads are , they are correct however. I did get the green light when static timing it. I guess its a faulty coil. but worth asking.

[Alty Ian]

Poor earth?

Throw it in the bin, I did.

[christopher storey]

Poor earth?

Throw it in the bin, I did.

So, I'm afraid, did I ..... several times ( not with mine , I hasten to add)

[JagWaugh]

Thanks for the replies, however to be clear there is no Spark. Its not about timing. It would spark whether the leads are , they are correct however. I did get the green light when static timing it. I guess its a faulty coil. but worth asking.

Andrew,

If you subsitute a 12V 35W bulb for the coil and hand turn the engine it should go on and off like a normal points system would (35W is +/- 4 Ohms, so the bulb is a close approximation for the load of a coil).

If you take the wire between the Dizzy and the coil off the dizzy and earth and release it repeatedly and fit a plugwire and (earthed) plug to the HT of the coil you can check that the coil is actually producing a spark.

If your ignition passes both these tests, then your problem is timing, cap, rotor, wires bad, or wrong order,or possibly 6 bad plugs... or your problem isn't ignition.

[andrewh]

Sounds good. Just got to get over a late night out with my curry club and I will test the dizzy as you suggest and the coil. thx will report back!

[andrewh]

OK OK, I am clearly going bonkers. However many times I checked the LT wiring on the coil yesterday I had the red wire and black wire on correctly. No spark. But when I went to the car this morning someone has clearly put them on the wrong terminals to confuse me. So I rechecked and found that the red was on the wrong terminal on the coil. Easy, now I have a spark! I need to take more water with it as my old man would say to me! Thanks for the help, I am just off to buy some Spectacles.

[JagWaugh]

My dad used to say "Whenever you don't know what has gone wrong, go back and look closely at the last thing you know you did right."

[andrewh]

I checked and rechecked at least half a dozen times yesterday. I must have been away with the fairies !

[JagWaugh]

I checked and rechecked at least half a dozen times yesterday. I must have been away with the fairies !

Speaking of fairies, which kind are in your shop? I have both: The ones which hide tools which I just put down, and the ones which put parts in the wrong boxes. If it weren't for them, working on the car would be a pleasure, as I never make mistakes.

[andrewh]

Crikey....I have the same ones as you that hide the tool that I have just put down. They cost me hours and hours and hours searching!

[chrisfell]

As someone well used to the machinations of the little people, both in the west country and when I visited the Isle of Man I know that fairies can be the good little guys. Those with evil intent are piskies or pixies or if you are aeronautically inclined, gremlins. Dont fall into the trap of confusing all evil little people with fairies, but also remember to wave to the fairies when riding from Douglas to Port Erin - this definitely helps to keep your motorcycle smooth side up. I did, and the following day, Mad Sunday, when the mountain course became a one way hell and sensible riders cowered behind pints of Okell's Bitter to watch the carnage, I survived with no spills and only one near miss.

[mystery type]

Crikey....I have the same ones as you that hide the tool that I have just put down. They cost me hours and hours and hours searching

Is this the same fairy' that keeps calling your mobile just when your under the car, and you realise that your phone is no longer in your pocket

[andrewh]

Thats good information although I do now have a jolly good spark at the plugs. Just need to press the black button and get some fuel up and hopefully fire into action

[JagWaugh]

Crikey....I have the same ones as you that hide the tool that I have just put down. They cost me hours and hours and hours searching

Is this the same fairy' that keeps calling your mobile just when your under the car, and you realise that your phone is no longer in your pocket

You are confusing fairies with omniscient beings. Those calls are from your wife.

[Mark Gordon]

When I installed my first 123 ignition in a E-Type S2 I found out that I need to connect the 123 ignition to a separate 12V and not to the contact 15 of the ignition coil.

In the S2 configuration the 12v goes through the rpm meter to the coil and to the 123ignition. That causes a lot of problems.

On my E-Type S1 4.2 I also had a problem because the fuse contact was a bit corroded and so I could get only 10 V on the coil. With the old ignition (contacts) it still worked but the 123 ignition needs full and pemanent 12-14 V.

Alfred

Interesting. It makes me wonder if that is the source of the problems that Christopher Storey and many of his friends have encountered with 123's while many of us on this side of the Pond have found them to be very reliable.

[Sprytly]

Andrew:
I know you have it sorted. Well done you! However, I'm curious seeing that you have a 3.8 did you remain + ground? I also have a 3.8. I've installed a 1-2-3, + ground version. I like it very much, though I too miswired it initially. California gremlins?

[PeterCrespin]

Is this the same fairy' that keeps calling your mobile just when your under the car, and you realise that your phone is no longer in your pocket

No, that one's called 'Headbanger, because when the phone rings you instinctively sit upright. Which is when you realise there's a silencer or sump drain about 6 inches above your head. But then seeing stars isn't quite the same as six well-timed spark plug....