Points Checking Advice

[Shaggy]

Hello, whats an easy way to adjust the points, I move it to far all the time I am trying to get the dwell to 50 +/- 2 but closest I have got is 40 or is it just a take my time moment

 

[froggy]

adjust the points gap using feeler gauges this usually works for me, think my dwell is about 50.2, not sure what the correct setting should be but sure someone will be able to tell you

 

[Shaggy]

Ahhh the guage...DOH! yeah good point, I seem to keep having dumb moment with my van, its def 50 +/- 2 so 52 would be good. Thank you

 

[stagger lee]

am i stating the obvious to take the distributor out? it's almost impossible to do it with it in situ'. just remember to mark the body and case so you know where it went for the timing etc. simply setting the correct gap inherently gives you the correct dwell angle, yeah.

 

[Shaggy]

Yeah you are but its a pain to take it in and out all the time, I just kept adjusting it till I got it right took me a while but its cool now

 

[Joval]

You know about the little nipples to make small adjustments with a screwdriver, right?

Just crack the screw open a little.

I set mine with a feeler (don't look at TDC mark, look at the cam lobe on the dissy when doing this) and then check with a dwell meter. :wink:

Do it a couple of times and you'll have a feel for the correct setting with er.., a feeler guage.

 

[Air Cooled Rookie]

On my van I found that if the dwell angle is correct, then the gap on the points is smaller than the Haynes manual says it should be. Don't know why that is, but the van certainly runs better with correct dwell rather than the correct points gap.

It is a pain setting the points, putting the rotor arm & dissy cap on, then starting the van to check the dwell only to find you need to adjust again. What I do is get the dwell right, then measure the gap on the points. That way next time you have a starting point that will give you a dwell angle pretty close tothe correct figure.

 

[angus]

Is the general consensus that a Petronix thingy is a good buy?

Or is there no consensus..... :shock: :roll: :lol:

 

[Joval]

I've had Pertronix for years on a few cars with no problems - easy starting (first click), slight improvement in fuel economy and because the dwell is set you don't need to worry about timing changing.

Others have had problems with them packing up without notice, wired incorrectly (kills them instantly) etc.
but I have had a condenser pack up without notice so it's all the same to me.

I would use them again but not sure if there is one compatible with the 205T vac dissy I have just installed - which BTW
is the best thing you can do for your bus ignition wise.
Ditch the 009 if you have one, they're great for racers and industrial motors but ***** for daily around town driving. :wink:

 

[angus]

Ta - no 009 dissy for me - an original old vacuum advance version!
Still tempted to try the Petronix, simply to remove one of the variables.

 

[Joval]

And variable it is -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1PFb46gKlc