cushman going through condensers

59-641-D · Aug 1, 2014

I have cushman at work. I know a bad ground will shorten the life of a condenser. I ran new grounds, even back to the battery. I'm
stumped:/

Cas · Aug 1, 2014

What brand are you using? I have had good luck with Standard products. They cost a little more. The last condenser I bought was made in Mexico. That country has become halfway decent on electrical parts.

rustyfarmall · Aug 1, 2014

Possibly a failed ballast resistor in the ignition system, and it is feeding a full 12 volts instead of just 6?

I don't know enough about a Cushman to know if it is a 6 volt system, or a 12.

Janicholson · Aug 1, 2014

The condenser operates in the 200+ volt rang as the points open. if they are failing (and you are actually testing them with a capacitance checker) they are being over heated, or destroyed mechanically. They have a very long life, and it is not voltage (6 or 12v) related. Jim

Steve@Advance · Aug 1, 2014

I'm assuming this is a magneto ignition?

If so, I would try getting them from a different source, especially if you're going back to the same supplier. They may have received a bad batch. Might even try some that fit the old lawn mower engines, they should be close enough to run.

David G · Aug 1, 2014

How many have you gone through?

Bob · Aug 2, 2014

"I know a bad ground will shorten the life of a condenser."

REALLY????? How do you "know" that?

MarkB_MI · Aug 2, 2014

How are you testing them? How are they failing? Shorted, open or 'sploded?

Just because you change a part and something starts working does not mean the part you changed was the root cause or even bad. Coincidences do happen.

sotxbill · Aug 2, 2014

I am having trouble with chinese points... they coorode almost weekly.. and you have to clean them once a week... Has nothing to do with the condenser. Might be your problem. Most of the time you just run a dollar bill through the points and they will then fire... for a week... Can beat Standard, Neihoff, blue streak and other quality brands...

GVSII · Aug 2, 2014

As asked,how is it failing? What do the points look like?

59-641-D · Aug 3, 2014

it's a 12volt negative ground

59-641-D · Aug 3, 2014

[quot="David G"](reply to post at 19:02:45 08/01/14) [/quote]

at least 8 in the last year

59-641-D · Aug 3, 2014

points are adjusted correctly and clean, what happens is, it'll
start "breaking up". I change the condensor and it's fine.....

59-641-D · Aug 3, 2014

you can test the condenser with the old analog meters. hook the meter up +to + - to -. hold it there for 10 seconds, then revese the polarity and the needle should jump if the condenser is good. you should remove the condenser to do this test

59-641-D · Aug 3, 2014

I read it on the internet:/ tell me if it's true.

MarkB_MI · Aug 3, 2014

Yes, I know how to test a condensor; I've been doing it for about forty years. And you don't need an analog meter, either. But you didn't answer the question: open or shorted? You seem to be saying the condensors are failing open. That could be a mechanical issue, for example the condensor lead is breaking, but I've never heard of this happening.

cushman going through condensers

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