TheSamba.com :: View topic - Removed distributor to remove engine. Reinstalled. No spark

Sat May 31, 2025 5:15 pm

I recently removed my engine. I had to remove the distributor so I won’t damage anything. I reinstalled and now no spark. I had an msd set up with no problems. I removed it and wired it the normal way.
2387
48 IDA
Coil (flamethrower)and CB distributor now.
Had fuel and all that other type of issues in the past. I was able to fix that area through this forum.
At first no spark. So I replaced the coil and checked ohms values. The older coil had read low. The new one, well reads 3.0 or something like that. The rotor spins. I did not take the motor apart other than removing the distributor.
But no spark still. I also replaced the module. No change.
My buddy is coming over tomorrow but I’d like to try and start it before. Thanks in advance.

Reason I removed the motor was to replace the flywheel cause it was making a chirping noise. I also installed the rest of the fiberglass parts.

Sat May 31, 2025 6:04 pm

If you mounted anything on the shroud that needs ground, you'll need to supply the ground with a wire to a real ground. And is the distributor seated into the drive all the way? If it's not turning it won't spark.

Sat May 31, 2025 8:13 pm

ps2375 wrote: If you mounted anything on the shroud that needs ground, you'll need to supply the ground with a wire to a real ground. And is the distributor seated into the drive all the way? If it's not turning it won't spark.

I have the ground strap installed. The distributor seems like it’s not sitting all the way down. I measured it and it seems like it is. The rotor turns. But maybe the shaft is not all the way in. I’ll check. Thank you.

Sat May 31, 2025 8:41 pm

Verify that you are getting 12V to the positive side of the coil. It sounds like it's a basic oversight. Something so simple you don't think to check it. Blown fuse? Run a jumper wire from the battery positive to the positive side of the coil. You should have spark then.
It's simple enough to lay out your whole ign [ including plug wires and plugs] on a metal work bench and hook 12V to it and spin the dist by hand and make sparks. The dist body needs to be grounded to the bench.