I'm trying to get my '57 Metropolitan going after 6 years of storage. Its got an Austin B series engine, and I can't get a spark at the plug leads. I can get a spark if attach a plug lead straight into the coil. If I remove the cap with leads attached and put an ohmeter to the coil end of the coil lead, and to the plug end of a plug lead, and then hold the rotor across the contacts then I get a circuit. (checked all 4 leads like this).
However, if I put the rotor and cap back on the distibutor, and then turn the engine over by hand through a couple of rotations then I don't see a reading at any point.
I can only assume that once everything's in its place then the rotor isn't making contact. (its definately rotating).
Anyone else come across these symptoms?
If it was a car I'd bought as a non-runner then I'd be wondering about all sorts of things, but I've run it for years, drove it into the garage myself (ie. it didn't break down), and it only got 60K miles on the clock (spring chicken).
So far I've replaced the HT leads, Dist cap & rotor. I've got some points and a condenser, but assume that they and the coil are fine as I can get a spark from the coil while cranking.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Dransfield