Thread: no spark at plug leads

hi guys fustrated with ignition system on 350 chev range rover. Its still contact breaker system. ATM im getting spark from coil through short lead through spark plug at engine when engine cranked. However i do not get spark through distributor-leads. Ok bit of history: I pulled the dizzy after the car wouldnt start due to no start situation as the shaft was floppy and thought no way the dizzy would maintain gap at breaker points if floppy dizzy shaft. After overhaul, i found tdc 1 cylinder installed dizzy with the points open. I noted where the rotor was pointing and made it no 1. I set gap before installing dizzy to 0.16 inch with feeler guage. I changed rotor and dizzy cap. if there was no gap at points would there be spark from coil straight to block through spsrk plug tester?

You can set the static timing of a points distributor with nothing more than a spark gap at the end of the coil lead. Turn the ignition on, slowly rotate the engine clockwise until the timing mark is reached. If the timing is correct there will be an audible spark. Adjust the distributor until this happens precisely at your correct timing setting.

Then crank over the engine and see that there is still a strong regular spark. If not, check the voltage at the coil when cranking with a test light. If the light goes very dim then you have a problem with the ballast resistor circuit not being cut off during cranking. Try hot wiring the coil for starting only, do not leave the coil connected to 12V continuously.

Then if that's OK but no spark appears at a plug lead find another rotor button. They can burn through, it's a quite common failure.