MG Car Repair: wont start, starter solenoid, match book

Question
Backed out the MG for state inspection today, parked it for 15 min. and now wont start!!
1963 MGB - turns over strong. fuel pump clicks and have gas pumping out of the hose going to the carb resivors. I dont think i'm getting any spark. I pulled a sparkplug wire and stuck an allen into the plug and held it close to the plug tip. Na Da. shouldn't i see a spark there? How do I check the coil?

Answer
Hi Andy,
The 63 MGB has points in the distributor and is the most likely problem. Remove the cap and rotor and turn the engine slowly and watch the points to see if the open and close as the shaft rotates. They should open .015" which is about the thickness of a paper match book cover. If they don't open that much, adjust them to .015" at a high point of the cam.

If they do, stop turning the engine at the most open point and get a 12v test light and turn the key on and test the points arm for power (12v).  If there is power slowly turn the engine until the points are closed and test the arm again. There should be no power. If there is still power on the points when closed you need to either clean the contact points or replace them.

Once you have power on the arm (open) and no power (closed) remove the coil wire and get a piece of wire as a test lead and put it into the coil and place the other end close to any metal on the engine. Rotate the engine until the points are open and take a screwdriver or such and short between the points arm and the points ground and watch the test coil lead. You should have a thick blue spark.

If you do look closely at the rotor and the inside and out side of the cap for signs of "carbon tracking" (thin black lines etched into the plastic) If so replace the cap and rotor. If you don't see any signs take something insulated and put the rotor on the shaft and hold the test coil lead about an eighth of an inch from the center of the rotor and with the key on, spin the engine with the starter (by use of the button on the starter solenoid)

If you can jump a spark to the rotor it is no good even if it shows no sign of carbon tracking.

Let me know how you do.
Howard