• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

I didn't gap... What could happen?

Share this page

KLUTZ

KLUTZ

Luke Skywalker
Country flag
Offline
I removed the 25D distributor from the '71 on Monday to check the points and condenser on it. I had been having problems with slight jerking and holding back at 60 mph on the highway. At 65 mph, it ran fine. My wife also had a problem last weekend where the car wouldn't go above 2500 rpm.
I ordered the parts from my mechanic but remembered that there were brand new points, condenser and rotor on the spare 25D Dizzy I took out of the 74.5 engine. I thought I would just swap them until I saw a crack in the side of it.
I took off the equiptment from the usable Dizzy and cleaned it up. The rotor was a little worn, and there was a lot of rust on the rotor stem. I sanded that all down. I then removed the points and condenser from the spare and screwed them down in the exact spot the others were in. I then put on the new rotor, installed it back in the engine, capped it and hooked up the wires. The car started immediatly and idled great. I took it out for a good run and I had none of the problems I had experienced prior. Pick-up is also remarkably much better. The car is REAL fun now. I also noticed last night that the car does not run-on for the 5 seconds like it was doing before. It doesn't run-on at all now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
What is the problem?
A co-worker asked me if I gapped the points when I put it in. UH.. No I didn't. Didn't even know I had to.
should I take it apart again and "gap" them? and how do I do that?
Or... did I maybe get lucky and set it up perfectly?

Thanks in advance again.

Paul
 
Gapping the points is very easy, I would recommend doing so. You only need to remove the dizzy cap.

Do you have a manual that explains how?

If not we can post instruction.

Glad to hear it is running better, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Paul, if it's running as well as you say, how much better are you liable to get it? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, if you get my drift.
Jeff
 
It's better and easier to check the dwell. You do have a dwell/tach meter, yes? If not, it's a great time to borrow one or better yet, buy one. Setting the dwell and setting the contact gap is essentially the same thing but more accurate with a dwell meter. And yes, once the dwell is set then you need to check/set the timing again.

Cheers,
John
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif

The gap determines the dwell. I usually use the gap to get it roughly right and then a dwell meter to do the "fine" adjustment.

An Overview:

https://www.centuryperformance.com/point_settings.asp

Use a manual to see what the proper settings should be for your car too.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Paul, the dwell is 60 degrees, but I'm sure you know that.
Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]



I know squat about points and condensers Jeff, but I am trying to read up on them now.
I have been blessed with Pertronix on my TR7 for 5 years. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Paul
 
One should *not* use "blessed" and "TR7" in the same sentence.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

YOMV
 
Nothing wrong with a TR-7... It's just a wannabe TR-8, without the fancy aluminum V-8. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
One should *not* use "blessed" and "TR7" in the same sentence.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

YOMV

[/ QUOTE ]


BLESSED...TR7...BLESSED...TR7...BLESSED...TR7...BLESSED...TR7...BLESSED...TR7...BLESSED...TR7...BLESSED...TR7...

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Could be the points slipped and the gap/dwell changed a little. It isn't impossible to just get the right by chance either; awhile ago I couldn't get my MG started just before a parade. I finally fiddled with the points, moved them a little, and tried again. The engine ran perfectly and got me through the parade. The next day I checked the dwell and it was absolutely perfect. Go figure.
 
A book of matches, the old paper kind can always be used to set the points in a pinch, the paper is just about the right thickness.
 
JW, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif wid Bugeye 58; Leave well enough alone---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Back
Top