I have stripped down an old 3.5 engine, I am at the stage where I need to know if the points/condenser etc. are working, how do I check?

Groz, September 2008

i have grown up with this trade if there is spark there its the diagram in your carburetor that is perished or weak if im right its not gravity feed fuel its presurised try this first before checking points and also check you cut of switch at the petrol tank to because somtimes this can shorten and effect your spark

irish dave, September 2008

Easy fix. Replace the points/condenser with an electronic retro-fit kit. Costs less than £10, and fixes it permanently - even in cases where the bearing is worn.

Drop me a line - or do a search on ebid for 'briggs points'.

phil_saunders@bigfoot.com

Phil Saunders, September 2008

A problem I had with my 29-year-old 3.5 was that it would not fire even when points and condenser were OK. Plug would fire when removed and laid on head for ground, but would not fire under compression. The cause was that the "bearing" (hole for crank where points are) became oval shaped. The crank would move away from the breaker pin inside the case when under compression. Therefore, points wouldn't break, and plug wouldn't fire. No fix to this other than another engine case which would probably be in same shape. In this case I strip engine of all good(?) parts for another project. Or you can give them to another fool like me who tries to restore hopeless cases.

Good luck

Robert Brown, September 2008

considering the cost i'd renew them,especially the condensor.there is no definitive test for them.the points if u have to keep them should be clean and unburnt,worn point faces errode one face and deposit metel on the other face,creating a valley and corresponding peak.the level of errosion/deposition corresponds to the condition of the condensor. so again i'd renew/replace them both.

caine, September 2008