Coil Problems With Key Ignition On?

I just bought a non running 75 CJ5. It turns over good but won't fire. I'm sure the fuel system and carb needs to be gone I've but it won't fire with fuel directly in the carb so I figured it would go down the no spark route.

I have no spark with a spark tester. I pulled the coil and outside of the jeep and hooked up with the key in the off position, the coil primary and secondary resistance seems good.

Once I turn the key into the on position, I get no reading from the coil.

 

Thanks. So I'm at just under 6V with the key on and it drops to around 3V when cranking.

 

Am I able to accomplish the same thing with a spark tester? If so, I didn't see a spark. But I will try again with a better ground and a plug.

 

No point to pulling a lot of parts until you've verified the basic tune up stuff.

Clean points, adjusted to spec, for instance?

 

I couldn't figure out how to get the cog(?) off after removing the cap, rotor and dust cap. I now feel comfortable doing it and will check out the points. Is there any way to tell if the condenser is good or bad without just replacing it?

 

IMO the best test for a coil is to borrow a working one from another car and try it.

 

we did that with a lot of things from our '70 suburban, so we could narrow it down to certain things.

 

I think I'll just have to buy one, cheap enough and I found the negative terminal is slightly stripped anyway. But I'll keep that in mind for the future, so easy to swap in and out.

 

a lot of people also don't have more than just their jeep with an external coil