Coil Problem?

Was in the process of using my WD45 when it just stopped.  Seems I'm not getting spark.  I have electric to the coil.  However, I'm not sure how to test the coil.  That's my first question.  Second, can a coil just fail?  Thanks in advance!

Use a test light on the distributor connection while cranking to see if the points open and close. Loss of spark could come from a shorted wire, condenser, or points not opening because of a worn rubbing block or a loose mounting screw. Stop cranking with the points open. Unplug the spark wire that goes from the coil to the distributor at the distributor end. Hold that a quarter inch from ground, like the block and use a jumper wire to connect and disconnect ground from the distributor primary wire connection. You should get a spark every time you open that ground. You could also stop cranking with the points closed, take off the distributor cover to use a screw driver to life the points arm away from the distributor cam to open the circuit.

One other possible failure is dirt on the points so they aren't closing. The wire check above will show that. With the distributor cap off, see that there's still metal parts on the rotor and that the posts inside the cap aren't too badly burned. All of these things can make for poor or no ignition.

Gerald J.

That surprise is why I called for a quarter inch gap. A good coil should jump half an inch but holding the wire you will get shocked through good insulation every time with a half inch gap. I suspected a truck coil once and on the bench I got an inch long spark, so I knew it was OK.

Gerald J.

Yeah, somehow I was thinking the point side of the coil...

Normally i replace the condenser and point. Pretty simple and probably needs it. If still dont have spark, then get the coil.