Volvo RWD 120-130 Forum

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Help for Common No Spark Causes 120-130 1967

Kevin;

I agree with other poster...one of the most common causes for a no spark condition on these relatively simple IGN systems is a permanent grounding of the points node (particularly after points replacement) due to several causes, but most commonly off-center distributor throughbolt or missing or incorrectly positioned insulator paper (intended to keep points-spring from making contact with inside dist wall)...I also recommend disconnecting wire to coil minus terminal and checking this bolt at dist for continuity to chassis when points are closed, and more importantly, NO CONTINUITY(!) when points are open.

Both conditions of points are critical and absolutely necessary to have a working IGN system!!! Closed Charges Coil, Open Discharges Coil to make IGN Hi-Voltage!

...and "rotor was all bent..." needs a better explanation...rotor is made of brittle bakelite which is impossible to bend...if you mean that the metal contact embedded within it was bent, that suggests contact with cap due to misalignment from incorrect installation or other reason...rotor and shaft are keyed such that rotor only fits on shaft in one rotational position and MUST be fully seated home onto shaft when installing...

"...and burned." - a slight amount of carbonization will always occur at the radial contact contact (this is absolutely normal!) because before spark can be "distributed" to its correct sparkplug by its wire, the hi voltage must jump across the rotor to the cap contact (and note: The ONLY electrical contact which occurs between cap and rotor is at the spring loaded center contact...no actual contact between rotor and cap contact for each individual sparkplug wire occurs!!)...more carbonization than usual could also be explained by the misalignment (and inadvertent contact!)...and misalignment could certainly also explain no-spark...if rotor to cap contact occurred due to excessive radial shaft slop, a serious dist service or replacement is in order...

See also: http://www.sw-em.com/Volvo%20Ignition%20from%20Scratch.htm#Vintage%20Volvo%20Ignition%20system%20and%20the%20Armored%20Cable

Please let us know how you make out!

Good Hunting!

...as far as the (most likely wrongly replaced) IGN coil, armored cable, IGN switch assembly...it will be usable spare (once repaired), but if you're going to toss it, I'll barter something for it...I'd like an IGN switch to study internally.






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New Need Advice. 67 122s Won't start [120-130][1967]
posted by  Kshale  on Tue Mar 16 05:07 CST 2010 >


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