That small bracket that holds the condensor on is available and I'm starting to include it for most of my rebuilds.
Looking carefully at the spark plug electrodes would tell me what I need to know. Weak voltage will present as a dark but dry fouled plug. Closer inspection will reveal that just the very tips of the plug are clean where the current was jumping across.
Unlike oil fouled plugs that are usually coated with hard brown deposits, or fuel soaked glugs that are shiny and wet, these plugs appeared to be dry which started to lead me down the path of fauty ignition.
I was standing in the pits at a race track one day watching a small group of men discussing the particulars of a set of used park plugs. One of them had a flash light and a magnifying glass. After looking at this one plug like an oricle inspecting the entrails of an owl, he pronounced that the spark plug from the problem cylinder had low voltage. Someone brought over a tool to test for such things and that's what it was.
Later, I asked him how he knew about the fouled spark plug. All he said was that the plug told him what was wrong. Being young and not accustomed to those who gaurd their secrets, I pushed on and asked what he meant by what he had just told me. He must have been a patient man because he pulled out a book with coloured pictures of used spark plugs.
'' Find the one that looks like this one. '' He instructed me. He had kept the used plug and pulled it out of his pocket. Placing it in my hand hand he asked, '' Are you always so curious? ''
'' Yes, sir.'' I answered.
I looked through about 20 pictures but nothing looked exactly like the plug in my hand. Not wanting to fail his test, I pointed out two pictures that looked similar but also pointed out that they didn't really match and that they were only close to the one in my hand.
'' Can't find it, eh? ''
'' No sir. ''
'' Well, that's because it's not in that book.'' He asked me for the spark plug and continued with his lecture. '' See, this plug is firing but it's not producing a good kernal.''
I wasn't sure what corn had to do with spark plugs so all I could say was, '' OK? ''
He knew that this was over my head so he detailed the things that would prevent good cumbustion.
'' The kernal is the actual spark the plug makes which starts the fuel burning,'' he explained. '' This plug isn't getting enough voltage so the flame front, or spark kernal, isn't hot enough to burn all of the fuel. The plug looks dark because the unburned fuel is leaving carbon deposits on the electrodes.'' He held the plug up to he light and continued. '' See how only the very ends of the tips are are clean? '' I nodded that I could see what he was pointing out. '' The voltage will jump across and only keep that area clean but the rest of the plug will be sooty. Only weak voltage will do that.''
'' Oh...... thanks.'' Was all I could say.
I was only about 15 or 16 at the time but I never forgot what that kind man taught me. I was just another nosey kid hanging around getting in the way but he took the time to show me one of his many secrects. That man was my brillant uncle, long passed away but never forgotten.
