Ferguson TO20 has no spark

No spark from the coil or the distributor on my Positive Ground Ferguson TO-20. This tractor has sat for the last 16+ years and Im not sure if it was running before they parked it. I have replaced the spark plugs, plug wires, coil (ive tried two new coils), replaced the points and capacitor, new distributor cap and a new wire from the + side of the coil to the distributor (this is a Positive ground system). Lastly I have jumped the ignition wire straight from the battery to the - side of the coil. I have 6v on both side of the coil and only 6v coming out of the hot side of the coil going to the distributor.

Shouldnt the hot side of the coil be much higher than 6v?

I have used a circuit testing light to see if the circuit is cut when the points on the distributor close. The light does not flash off while turning over the engine. Is this where my problem lies? What could cause this? A bad ground?

Points have been set as per the manual at .022
I also removed the grounding strap and cleaned the connection. However, the whole tractor has some surface rust. Should I run a larger grounding wire from the grounding strap to the engine block?

Thanks Im advance!

Spike

You're on the right track with the test light.

That the light stays on means the points are not making contact.

Try arcing across the points with a screw driver. If you can get a spark, and make the light go off, that means the points just need cleaning. Being new they have a protective anti corrosion coating. Wet a piece of paper with carb cleaner or alcohol and draw it between the contacts.

If no spark at the points, start checking for a bad connection somewhere between the coil and the points, especially the terminal that goes through the side of the distributor.

Thanks for the reply Steve. I will try this tomorrow and will reply back with my findings. Im hoping and thinking it is something simple like this.

I did arc the points earlier with a screw driver but didnt think about trying it while using the test light.

You could also use your test light from the neg. bat post to the plate in the distributor to check your theory about it not being grounded.

"I have 6v on both side of the coil and only 6v coming out of the hot side of the coil going to the distributor.

Shouldnt the hot side of the coil be much higher than 6v?"

The center post of the coil will only have high voltage ( up to several thousand volts)when the points open and the primary coil energy collapses and induces a high voltage in the secondary. Your hand held volt meter is incapable of measuring that voltage spike.

The only relevant voltage reading you will get from the center post is that the 6 or 12 volts would indicate that you have continuity through the high voltage secondary winding of the coil.

The coil is a transformer with one side of the primary and one side of the secondary windings tied together. With no load on the large secondary output you will see primary battery voltage back through the joint connection.

This did the trick! I cleaned the points and it fixed the problem. Put a little starter fluid in the carb she fired right up. Thanks for the Pointers. Pun intended..

Spike