My car was working fine, not at its best as the contact points had been worn to an extent where no further sanding could save them. Was going through a tank of petrol every 4 days with not much driving. So I thought I might as well change the points myself.. Great idea.. now the thing won’t start.. Plans of golf and swimming this arvo.. gone. And because I changed my license plates and forgot to update them with the NRMA, I need to wait to get in contact with mum so she can call up.. There was 1 screw to replace, how could I get it so wrong!!

you have to get the gap just right MrC, have you got a gregory’s?
If not you should be able to find the details online
that’s all it will be. no big drama

find out the gap, get feeler gauges, turn over engine until little lug on points sits on the high point of the centre shaft in the distributor, measure gap between points plates, should be same as specification. Or get a dwell metre and follow the instructions, setting dwell angle to specifications…

arrrrrgh turn over the engine by HAND while you watch the points shaft slowly turn, you may need to remove the spark plugs because compression maybe a bit high to allow you to do it…

annnnnd to adjust the points gap while using feelers, you need to loosen the screw in the bottom of the plate to slide the points open…

Thanks Cliff…been way too many years since I have had to do it :)

Thanks guys, its been a couple of months since I last saw it done so I must have forgotten the size of the gap. Man I shoulda had a look before I took the old one out. Its a champion brand point bte but the NRMA guy is on his way out so I will let him tell me where I went wrong.

lol…. live and learn MrC, at least you had the balls to mention it on here. We’ve all done something like it.

have you got a valve radio in that thing as well:-)

lol nah I got away with a cassette player :-) Really do need an mp3 player in there.

Another thing (sorry I know this isn’t IseekCar.com) but when putting in points are you meant to grease up the nylon part that contacts the points shaft? (I think thats what it is called)

Mr c,turn ignition ..ON….with dizzy cap off…..put a screwdriver on the points and separate point gap…open and shut..acouple of times ,if there is no spark you have put the wire on the wrong way and it is shorting out…if there is spark its the gap

Yeah you need to lightly grease the cam knob…. thingy bit, it’s been many years since I set some points….

Thanks guys. I dunno if I am game to try it again now that she is running again.. :-)

Mr C, your story reminds me of an experience I had about 20 years ago while installing a radio station at Fitzroy Crossing. I had been working back late one night (about 10pm) and was travelling back to the hotel when I came across two young girls with their car stalled on the main road. It was pitch black and in the middle of no where. These girls were travelling around Oz in an old Toyota and they couldn’t get the car to start. A few simple checks pin pointed the problem to the points not working. I had a few tools in the car but no feeler gauges and I hadn’t attempted a points adjustment for years. So I loosened up the points and did a thumb suck on the gap adjustment. They were delighted when the car started first try. I felt like a hero all the way home. Pity I wasn’t young and single at the time, could have been on a winner;-)

Cheers

Yeah you need to lightly grease the cam knob…. thingy bit, it’s been many years since I set some points….

Cliff Manley

3 bad shots and 1 good shot is still a 4….
Golf is played in a very small area, the 6 inches between your ears…

“Dont play too much golf. Two rounds a day is plenty.” Harry Vardon

elbowgrease hehehehe
i learnt something

Mr C, your story reminds me of an experience I had about 20 years ago while installing a radio station at Fitzroy Crossing. I had been working back late one night (about 10pm) and was travelling back to the hotel when I came across two young girls with their car stalled on the main road. It was pitch black and in the middle of no where. These girls were travelling around Oz in an old Toyota and they couldn’t get the car to start. A few simple checks pin pointed the problem to the points not working. I had a few tools in the car but no feeler gauges and I hadn’t attempted a points adjustment for years. So I loosened up the points and did a thumb suck on the gap adjustment. They were delighted when the car started first try. I felt like a hero all the way home. Pity I wasn’t young and single at the time, could have been on a winner;-)

Cheers

As far as I’m concerned, too much golf is barely enough!

And so you should have. Bet you those girls thought the world of you.. As you said, shame you weren’t young and single.