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Keep burning out condensers....
  • nhp1127nhp1127
    Posts: 2,275Platinum Member
    Howdy,



    I have an issue with my Stock 48 Commodore 6. Within the last few months, it has died on me twice and I could not get it restarted. After a fellow Hudsonite checked out some things, he determined it was the condenser. After replacing it, it started right up. It just died again on me yesterday, I replaced the condenser again, and it started right up.... any ideas as to what the problem maybe? Niels
  • Ken U-Tx
    Posts: 1,102Platinum Member
    Make sure there is a good ground to the advance plate that the condenser is fastened to, and that the wire from the condenser is not grounding out by rubbing on anything. It seems to me like the condenser wire or it's terminals are grounding somewhere. Some care must be taken when installing the new condenser for this reason.
  • Park_WPark_W
    Posts: 2,052Platinum Member
    Niels, if the car has a stock coil and not some special whiz-bang thing, try condensers from a different source and see if that changes your luck.
  • topsgtsarg
    Posts: 20Greasemonkey
    In my youth the Blue Streak brand had a common fault like you describe. Use a Delco condensor and be sure the ground lead from the distributer body to the plate is electrically solid and clean. Also clean and lightly gouge the plate under the condensor mounting bracket.
    Everything said by the others is correct, too.
  • walts garage-53
    Posts: 1,470Platinum Member
    nhp1127 wrote:
    Howdy,



    I have an issue with my Stock 48 Commodore 6. Within the last few months, it has died on me twice and I could not get it restarted. After a fellow Hudsonite checked out some things, he determined it was the condenser. After replacing it, it started right up. It just died again on me yesterday, I replaced the condenser again, and it started right up.... any ideas as to what the problem maybe? Niels
    Do it Walt's way. Put the condenser on the outside of the distributor housing and connected to the outside post where the ignition wire goes. Now you have a good ground and will stay cooler. Just make sure you have a ground wire housing to plate to help points ground.
  • nhp1127nhp1127
    Posts: 2,275Platinum Member
    thanks for all the replies and all this makes sense. I think I'm going to simply put on a Pertronix electronic ignition and not have ignition problems again....
  • DaveFuryDaveFury
    Posts: 642Platinum Member
    walt's garage-53 wrote:
    Do it Walt's way. Put the condenser on the outside of the distributor housing and connected to the outside post where the ignition wire goes. Now you have a good ground and will stay cooler. Just make sure you have a ground wire housing to plate to help points ground.



    Walt,



    Do you happen to have a part number for the externally mounted condensor you use?
    Dave W.

    What's life without a Hudson?
  • RL ChiltonRL Chilton
    Posts: 3,458Platinum Member
    nhp1127 wrote:
    thanks for all the replies and all this makes sense. I think I'm going to simply put on a Pertronix electronic ignition and not have ignition problems again....



    That will definately solve your problem.
  • JasonNCJasonNC
    Posts: 363Gold Member
    nhp1127 wrote:
    thanks for all the replies and all this makes sense. I think I'm going to simply put on a Pertronix electronic ignition and not have ignition problems again....



    When you find out which Petronix unit fits the 262, how about posting the #. BTW, have you converted to 12 volts negative ground?

    JasonNC
  • RL ChiltonRL Chilton
    Posts: 3,458Platinum Member
    Russ Maas (21st Century Hudson) sells the Pertronix unit, or you can send in your unit and have them do it for you.
  • walts garage-53
    Posts: 1,470Platinum Member
    DaveFury wrote:
    Walt,



    Do you happen to have a part number for the externally mounted condensor you use?
    Just use the bracket that comes with the condenser. Attach it to the screw that holes one of the cap clips. Nothing else is needed. When I do this for owners, I make a small aluminum plate, bolt to cap clip and screw condenser to it. Walt.
  • 464Saloon
    Posts: 923Platinum Member
    JasonNC wrote:
    When you find out which Petronix unit fits the 262, how about posting the #. BTW, have you converted to 12 volts negative ground?
    JasonNC

    Part# is 1362P6 if you are 6v. 1362 if you are 12. I have two sitting on my desk here as I am going to convert both Neils 48 and 52. I did his 51 which is 12v and did my 54 when I converted to 12v three years ago. Neither car has ever had a problem. I have also done my 68 442 and 55 F-100 and they also work great.
  • JasonNCJasonNC
    Posts: 363Gold Member
    464Saloon wrote:
    Part# is 1362P6 if you are 6v. 1362 if you are 12. I have two sitting on my desk here as I am going to convert both Neils 48 and 52. I did his 51 which is 12v and did my 54 when I converted to 12v three years ago. Neither car has ever had a problem. I have also done my 68 442 and 55 F-100 and they also work great.



    Rob,

    Do you recommend getting the 40,000 volt coil? How complicated is the installation for a novice?

    Thanks,

    Jason
  • DaveFuryDaveFury
    Posts: 642Platinum Member
    walt's garage-53 wrote:
    Just use the bracket that comes with the condenser. Attach it to the screw that holes one of the cap clips. Nothing else is needed. When I do this for owners, I make a small aluminum plate, bolt to cap clip and screw condenser to it. Walt.



    Thanks Walt. I will do just as you said.
    Dave W.

    What's life without a Hudson?