225 odd-fire ignition coil - condenser?

I'm having trouble getting a spark to the plugs in my 225. The system has new plugs and wires, as well as a new ignition coil. The points and condenser are old, which I assume is my problem, but I have what appears to be a condenser connected to the positive terminal on the coil. It is mounted on the coil's bracket, does anyone know what this is?
Also, if this "condenser" bad, would it prevent the system from producing a spark? (Right now I have nothing at the plugs, and only 8 volts coming out of the coil. I do have 12 volts at the positive and negative terminals...)
Thanks in advance for your help!
Willts Jeep 1963

 

That condenser on the coil + is a radio suppressor (radio noise) and if bad it can cause problems. The fact that you have 12v to the coil + and 8 volts to the neg tells me that your points are closed (4 volt diff) and are not making a good connection due to point buildup. With a good set of points you should have 12V + at coil and 0V - at coil when points are closed. When points are open you should read 12V at both terms on coil.

 

agreed, if your jeep was sitting for a while the points built up some corrosion and they are not making contact. A new set is available from NAPA and you should get the heavy duty kind (not the light duty with press-on connections). If they don't list the condensor inside the dirtributor ask for one from a '69 chevrolet (seems common enough) as it is the same size and value.
In a pinch you can try cleaning the points you have in there just to prove your engine can run but changing them should do you well.

You can remove the condenser on the coil and it will have no impact on how the jeep runs. If its a bad condenser, it is shorting the coil terminal.

Tom

 

This page was/is very helpful to me ... says L134 but will work for 225 (I have the 225):

http://mightymo.org/Proj_No_Spark.html

 

Wow thanks everyone for the expertise! I figured the points were bad, but I thought I could get some spark out of them... I'm running to NAPA tomorrow, I'll let you know how it turns out...

 

That is if you have a Delco dist. I don't think there is a uniset for the Prestolite.

 

I do have the Delco, and I did get the uniset, it worked great! The engine started right up, it's the first time she's ran since 1979! Thank you so much for the time and efforts in this thread!
Now onto other problems...