Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

I found this interesting.

https://www.nonlintec.com/sprite/cap_failure/

[alastairq]

Thanks for that, Ray.

Yet another reason why old school motors, and originality, isn't always the best route?

I would suggest making up some sort of 'disguise' housing for one of the capacitors suggested as replacements, simply 'tidying things up?'

Originality?
With attendant likely unreliability?
Not the car's fault, nor the designers', or manufacturers faults....
Merely the fault of modernism?
What with changes in the ingredients in fuel, or the rubber mixes of tyres....changes in [improvements in?] oils and lubes....just how 'original' can we keep our old motors, yet still use them?

Or are we becoming more interested in 'show' rather than 'go?'
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Ray White]

I don't think it is unreasonable to expect the car you are driving - be it older or modern - to get you where you want to go. If that means using tech here and there then then all to the good.

I know there are purists out there who would have me reproduce every poor design and erstwhile cost cutting exercise that Abingdon did in the name of originality... but I take the view that what they do or don't do is none of my business and I would hope they could respect that.

It is a shame that the younger generation seems reluctant to "get their hands dirty" as we say. Given there is such demand for our kind of cars and how dependent we are on reproduction parts, I can envisage someone developing a quality range. I think it would do well.

[ukdave2002]

Part of my toolkit is a suitable sized capacitor that can simply and quickly be put across the coil in the event of a condenser failure.



As condensers inevitably fail open circuit this can be added without any dismantling or even having to open the distributor. I have another that has croc clips rather than spades that can be clipped on to coils that don't have spade terminals, thus far I must have given about half a dozen away to folk with problems at shows!