How do you set ignition points?
Table of Contents
How do you set ignition points?
The correct setting for the points is given in the car handbook or workshop manual. Turn the crankshaft pulley in the direction of the engines normal rotation with a spanner or socket wrench, until the contact heel is on the tip of one of the distributor cam lobes , so that the contact-breaker points are fully open.
How does a breaker point ignition system work?
As the engine rotates, the distributor shaft cam turns until the high point on the cam causes the breaker points to separate suddenly. Instantaneously, when the points open (separate) current flow stops through the primary windings of the ignition coil. This causes the magnetic field to collapse around the coil.
How do you check ignition points?
Use a socket and a breaker bar to rotate the engine so that the points are at their widest gap. The gauge, either a wire type or feeler type, should just slide between the points without pushing them apart. If this doesn’t solve the problem, try tracing the entire circuit, starting with the battery.
What should the spark plug gap be?
between 0.020 and 0.040 of an inch
For most racing applications, you usually want the plug gap to be between 0.020 and 0.040 of an inch. Most engine builders seem to settle around 0.035 of an inch. Factors such as the type of ignition you run, cylinder heads, fuel and even timing can affect how much gap will work best for you.
Why am I not getting spark to my points?
If no spark is visible, check to see if the points or wires are shorting to ground either at the points or at the primary terminal screw going through the housing. Also check where the contact spring connects to the main frame of the points and make sure the insulator is not melted. 3.
What happens if spark plugs are gapped too close?
The customer may experience loss of power, misfires, spark plug fouling, increased plug wear, or poor gas mileage. Too small of a gap may give too weak of a spark to complete the combustion process within the engine; too wide of a gap can lead to the spark plug not firing correctly, causing misfires at high speeds.
