points

[Anonymous-0]

Ford 8N front mount - stopped running - points were fairly new, but would not open up, could not set them to open up, all screws on movable plate secure, dist. shaft lubercated, no wobble in shaft, points looked good, almost new. Replaced points, this time I could set gap using the movable plate, ran good for about an hour and then started sputtering and fianlly quit. Check points, nothing had moved, cam arm was not worn, shaft was lubercated but points would not open up no matter where you moved the movable plate with the ecentric screw. Never run across this before, been using points for 20 years on this machine. Can any body tell me what is going on and how to fix it? Thanks ----- James Lee - TN

 

[oldtanker]

Could you move the points manually or were they stuck together? If stuck did you replace the condenser. A bad condenser can burn a set of points up that fast. If they were not stuck then with no wobble in the shaft the rub block had to have worn that fast which would indicate to me that they were really cheap points.

Rick

 

[NOXJohn]

You may have purchased junk points. Look at comments on 5/4/2012 topic "Does $60 seem right to you".

 

[old]

Your problem is that your probably getting the cheap sets of points from TSC or some such place and yep they last a very short time and the rubbing block on then goes away and then you can not set them any more. Go to a auto parts store like NAPA or O'Reilly's and buy a set of B/W or Blue streak and you will have a set that will last you. Ya they will cost you 2 maybe 3 times more but are worth it

 

[Colin King]

I experienced a similar problem with my '49 8N front mount in '07. I had several issues:

1) 1 broken spring on the cam weight assembly
2) Very badly worn cam lobes
3) Very worn distributor bushing

I could not set the timing worth a darn, regardless. Because of the wear on the cam, I replaced the cam assembly and bushing. Pricey, but it solved the problem.

Colin, MN

 

[Anonymous-0]

The points did not stick, I could set the gap and the timing, worked fine for a few hours, then they would not open, I am inclined to beleive that they are cheap points and the part that contacts the lobe on the shaft just wears away, got them at Tru Value, am thinking about putting the round coil electronic ignition in it thay this site sales. ------------ Thanks, ------- James Lee - TN

 

[Bruce(VA)]

" am thinking about putting the round coil electronic ignition in it thay this site sales"

Before you do that, you will be much better off to get it running w/ the frontcoil & points. Otherwise, you could easily spend $150 & end up w/ a round coil & EI & it still won't run.

Even the EI advocates will tell you that.

Check out the link for a recent discussion on EI.
EI

 

[James Lee]

Thanks, every body, after looking at my points and the ones they sell at YT, there is a big difference where the movable point arm comes in contact with the lobe on the dist. shaft. The ones sold here look thicker and wider, with may be a wiper of some kind, mine were just straight and dry as a corn shuck. Electronic - $165 and if something happened I would not even know how to trouble shoot it. Points, condencer, button, cap, on this site 37.91. I think I am going to stick with the points and get them from here so I know they will be of quality. One other thing, 10 years ago I did away with the front mount coil and started using a round coil --- made a plate to cover the top of the dist. -- has worked very well (except for the bad points).

 

[James Lee]

Thanks, every body, after looking at my points and the ones they sell at YT, there is a big difference where the movable point arm comes in contact with the lobe on the dist. shaft. The ones sold here look thicker and wider, with may be a wiper of some kind, mine were just straight and dry as a corn shuck. Electronic - $165 and if something happened I would not even know how to trouble shoot it. Points, condencer, button, cap, on this site 37.91. I think I am going to stick with the points and get them from here so I know they will be of quality. One other thing, 10 years ago I did away with the front mount coil and started using a round coil --- made a plate to cover the top of the dist. -- has worked very well (except for the bad points).