- Attach the tach/dwell meter to the 302 by clipping the red wire onto the positive “+” side of the coil and the black wire to the negative battery terminal. …
- Start the engine and read the dwell angle. …
- Bump the engine with the starter until the points open.
What gap should points be set at?
The Haynes manual recommends a point gap of
. 016-. 020 inches
for engines used in the P1800.
How do you set points without a dwell meter?
Registered. If you don’t have a dwell meter then just
use a feeler gauge and set them to I believe . 019′′
. Set the points first and then do the timing with a light.
How do I know if my points are working?
Test for continuity between the block and the stationary point attached to the distributor plate. Rotate the engine until the points are closed. Use the
multi-meter to test
for a good connection between the points. A slight gap when the points are supposed to be closed will keep your machine from running.
How do I know if my points are bad?
- Vehicle not starting. If your vehicle will not start, it is possible there is a problem somewhere within the points and condenser. …
- Engine will not fire. …
- Engine runs rough.
What happens if ignition points are too close?
As they close,
current from the ignition switch flows through the contacts into the coil’s primary windings and then off to ground
. … All that current flowing across the points doesn’t like to stop suddenly, and can initiate a small arc, which eventually erodes the tungsten contacts.
How do you set points and dwell?
Turn the key ON and crank the engine. Using a feeler gauge to get close,
adjust the points to the
desired setting according to dwell readings and tighten the points. Crank it again to be sure the dwell angle is still correct. You can now go on to set your timing.
How do you set ignition timing with points?
- Rotate the crankshaft so that the cam that operates the points is at the highest location and the points are wide open.
- Adjust the point gap setting to specifications using a feeler gauge. …
- Set the crankshaft position. …
- Adjust the timing.
How do you convert points to electronic ignition?
There are two ways you can go about converting from points to electronic ignition – you
can install a factory electronic system that replaces the factory points and distributor
, or you can install an aftermarket high-performance system with parts and components from various manufacturers.
How does a points style ignition work?
Points. Ignition points are a set of
electrical contacts that switch the coil on and off at the proper time
. The points are opened and closed by the mechanical action of the distributor shaft lobes pushing on them. The points have a tough job, switching up to eight amps of current many times per second at highway speed …
How do you set ignition timing without timing marks?
- Mark the spark plug wires for the cylinder number using a short piece of masking tape on each wire. …
- Rotate the engine clockwise and observe the valves on the number one cylinder.
Which way do I turn my Ford distributor to advance timing?
2. Setting base ignition timing is done by twisting the distributor; it’s held down by a 1⁄2-inch bolt and clamp. You can use a swivel socket or a distributor wrench (shown) to loosen the bolt enough so you can turn the distributor. Spinning it
clockwise advances timing
, counterclockwise retards the timing.
How do you calculate dwell angle?
In order to calculate the dwell angle for this 4-cylinder engine, we use the following formula:
duty(B) / 100*90
. Duty B indicates the percentage of time that our signal is positive during our cycle time. Dividing by 100 converts our positive duty percentage into a decimal value.
How do you determine whether the points lie on a straight line?
Explanation: To find out if a point is on a line,
you can plug the points back into an equation
. If the values equal one another, then the point must be on a line.
What is the difference between points and electronic ignition?
This is an older style of ignition system that uses points,
a distributor
, and an external coil. … In an electronic system, you still have a distributor, but the points have been replaced with a pickup coil, and there’s an electronic ignition control module.
How do you test points and condenser?
- Remove the condenser from the engine. …
- Switch the volt ohmmeter to the ohms position. …
- Touch the red lead to the hot connector on the condenser. …
- Remove the leads and reverse the placement to the condenser. …
- Movement from the meter’s needle indicates the condenser is good.
Are points supposed to spark?
Yes
, with no ground there is no path for the current to flow.
What causes points to burn up?
The usual causes for pitted or burned points are
setting the points too close or having a bad condenser
. I assume you have replaced both the condenser and the points, so double check the gap on the points. Or even better, use a dwell meter if you can find one.
How long do ignition points last?
They’re used constantly – every time your car is cranked and then the entire time the engine runs. This puts a lot of wear and tear on them (hence the reason better, more durable ignition systems have been created for newer cars). In general, you can expect your points and condenser to last
around 15,000 miles or so
.
Should distributor points spark?
IF THERE IS NO TRIGGER SIGNAL TO THE COIL
If they are, see if they are sparking. On a dual point distributor, one set will open with
no
spark and the other will spark when it opens. If the spark is a big fat one, then the condenser is bad and needs to be replaced.
Do all distributors have points?
It’s fairly simple. If you open your hood, be sure your car has a distributor cap with very thick wires coming out of the top and going to each spark plug. If you don’t have a standard distributor cap like this,
you don’t have points
. If you do have a standard distributor cap, you can open the cap up and peek inside.
How do I check my dwell points?
When fitting new contact-breaker points in the distributor , the normal way of checking the gap between them is with
a feeler gauge
. Points that have been in use for some time develop a peak on one face that corresponds with a crater on the other, caused by spark erosion as the points open.
Why is dwell angle important?
The DWELL ANGLE is the number of degrees of engine rotation corresponding to the dwell time. It is important as
the dwell must be sufficiently long to ensure a good spark and it must be timed correctly
to correspond to when the particular cylinder/spark plug needs a spark to make the engine run as designed.
What are the 3 types of ignition systems?
There are three basic types of automotive ignition systems:
distributor-based, distributor-less, and coil-on-plug (COP)
. Early ignition systems used fully mechanical distributors to deliver the spark at the right time.
How does points and condenser ignition work?
As the engine rotates, the distributor shaft cam turns until the high point on the cam causes the breaker points to separate suddenly. … The
condenser absorbs the energy
and prevents arcing between the points each time they open. This condenser also aids in the rapid collapse of the magnetic field.
Does electronic ignition increase horsepower?
One of the easiest ways to increase the horsepower output of your classic car is by
converting from the old, maintenance-intensive, unreliable points/breaker-type ignition to electronic ignition
.
