Try this too:
W/distrib cap off, make sure points are closed (turn crank til they are shut).
Turn ignition on.
THen w your fingers or non-metallic tool, open the points.
There should be a bluish spark across the points, you might even hear it.
If you try this same thing, but also hold the end of the fat coil wire near the block, when you open the points, the fat coil wire should spark across to the block just like a spark plug. This tests the coil.
Of course, the system can still be "weak", but this will tell you if it's working or totally dead.
