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Distributor points messed up

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MGNoir

Jedi Hopeful
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Just got my '74 midget back on the road by replacing the points. It had been getting progressively rougher and harder to start. I (probably like many others) kept messing with the carbs, tuning, etc. Finally replaced the points (which are about 1 year old, forget how many miles) and was suprised to find the metal was warped a bit and there was wear as if it had rubbed on the shaft!

New points, happy car, zippy car, even "leave rubber behind" car.

Question: why did my points get so messed up? It was I confess a cheap "NAPA" set. Would that do it? Buy "real" ones?

PS

New here - just saw the link on the Moss forums. I can't beleive they didn't make a Spridget section! Talk about marketing faux paux - almost 800 new users signed up today - and all us Midget people grumbling...
 
MG, first, welcome to the best British Car site going!! I've been running the NAPA points for a long time, in multiple cars, and have only had one problem. I had a rubbing block that wore down prematurely, and caused the same symptoms you describe.
Other than that once, they have performed very well.
Jeff
 
Have they been on there longer than 3 oil changes? I always regap and check the points with every oil change... until I switch to the pertronix ignition. I still check the rotor button and oil the bushing (not sure if this is needed).

Welcome. Why did you not visit here before?
 
I have heard of this problem on more than just Spridgets and it's not isolated to NAPA points. It appears that some of the old Lucas points had heels made from fiber laminated thermoset plastic and these later ones are using a thermoplastic which softens and flows with temperature.

Some say using a better lube helps. Some say that the problem only showed up after switching to a lower resistance (higher current) coil. I have yet to hear of a permanent solution to the problem. It seems that how the points last is "luck of the draw".
 
I've used the napa, vb and moss points. I do change them 3 times a year along with my oil, spring, mid-summer and fall. I know that change period is excessive, but at a couple of bucks a piece, always seemed worth it to chenge everything at the same time.
 
Interesting comments thanks. I'm thinking now that I should just replace them more often perhaps. And also I don't feel so much that it was some kind of fluke - that it happens to others too!

dklawson, you mentioned the coil. I used to have a "sport" coil, but recently took it off and went back to the default coil. Possible connection? Hard to say.

Great to find the forum by the way - I'm definitely a forum junky. Much simpler than a mail list!
 
Hi MGNoir. I'm only repeating what I've been told by others so take my comments with a grain of salt. If anything, I would expect your stock coil to draw less current than the Sports Coil. The heel wear problem is probably more one of quality control and finding the right lube for the dizzy cam.
 
Try looking up Bosch distributor grease online. A tube is about $10-12, but lasts a lifetime. Its the best points cam lube ever made!
As a side note, the latest Lucas points seem to be working out pretty well. Some of the off-brand points are great, others not so great. Its almost batch dependant.
Jeff
 
The NAPA points have worked well for me for years. "Echlin" from NAPA. "Standard Motor Parts" seem fine as well. Most clients' cars got one or the other. We had very few problems with either.
 
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