9 replies to this topic

[Matty2012]

What grit sand paper should I use for cleaning distributor points?

Or what is best to clean them with? Thanks

[Gaz66]

If they need abrasives just renew them.
Thats been my policy anyway seeing as they are cheap on the grand scheme of things.

[68+86auto]

An ignition point file but it is best to get new points.

[sonscar]

I would use an ancient metal nail file,better to refresh some known good quality points than buy some cheap tat which will not meet square and will wipe out the plastic heel in short order.Check the condenser if the points have hills and craters.Steve..

[absx2]

I would use an ancient metal nail file,better to refresh some known good quality points than buy some cheap tat which will not meet square and will wipe out the plastic heel in short order.Check the condenser if the points have hills and craters.Steve..

 

Good point there Steve, it reminds me of my breakdown because the new rotor arm shorted to earth as soon as it got warm which was 5 miles down the road after a service !!

There really is an awful amount of crap parts out there and buying from the big boys doesn`t help.

[gazza82]

Sand paper? I always use wet&dry .. used dry.

[DeadSquare]

Way back in the 6o's, an old man came into the pub one evening, looking for assistance because his car had been going badly and stopped about 100 yards up the road and now wouldn't start.

 

Spitting in my pint to discourage my friends from swigging from it, I went off to help.

 

I soon ascertained that there was plenty of fuel in the carburettor, but then found no spark. Removing the distributor cap, I could see that the points were not touching. With the aid of my Swiss Officers Army Knife, I removed the points and quickly polished them up a bit, on the only rough surface handy which was the rusty cast iron exhaust manifold.

 

Using the tooth pick to hold the points apart, I reassembled the distributor and to the owner's delight, the engine leapt into life as soon as he pulled the starter.

 

He very kindly drove me back to the pub and insisted on buying me a pint, which was very welcome, because, although my friends had gone, I had found my tankard on the table, covered with a beer mat, inscribed with the words  "We all spat in your pint before we left".

[Ethel]

Flat needle file or a bit of wet 'n dry folded back to back. It's metal transferring from one contact to the other. If they're not flat, they can arc prematurely. I'd fit an electronic conversion kit & open the plug gap an extra 5 thou or so.

[DeadSquare]

Way back in the 6o's, an old man came into the pub one evening, looking for assistance because his car had been going badly and stopped about 100 yards up the road and now wouldn't start.

 

Spitting in my pint to discourage my friends from swigging from it, I went off to help.

 

I soon ascertained that there was plenty of fuel in the carburettor, but then found no spark. Removing the distributor cap, I could see that the points were not touching. With the aid of my Swiss Officers Army Knife, I removed the points and quickly polished them up a bit, on the only rough surface handy which was the rusty cast iron exhaust manifold.

 

Using the tooth pick to hold the points apart, I reassembled the distributor and to the owner's delight, the engine leapt into life as soon as he pulled the starter.

 

He very kindly drove me back to the pub and insisted on buying me a pint, which was very welcome, because, although my friends had gone, I had found my tankard on the table, covered with a beer mat, inscribed with the words  "We all spat in your pint before we left".

 

Coincidence or Happenstance ?  It is not what you know, but who you know, when in trouble.

 

 

Yesterday, I met up with a friend at the Hay Festival, he is widowed and had won two tickets.

 

Because his wife was French, they had always driven a Citroen 2CV, but in an act of defiance, he came in a recently acquired Morris 1,000 Traveller.

 

It was reluctant to start as he drove me to a pub, and after a bottle of Gloucestershire "Three Choirs" wine with our languid lunch, a French gremlin refused to let it start as we returned.

 

A quick check revealed no sign of a spark, so off came the Distributor cap revealing very sad looking points.  In that instant, I knew what it was like to be a Cowboy, without his six shooter, as I realised that in donning my smart grey flannels, I was bereft of my Swiss Officer's Army Knife.

 

Casting around for something with which to remove the points, I spied a Skip.  Fortunately, someone needing a chisel had discarded their now handleless screwdriver, and as a bonus, there was a slither from a 1MM cutting disk to abrade the points.

 

If this is going to keep happening, it might be worth arming myself with a set of points when I go to the pub.

 

 

 

[cal844]

Way back in the 6o's, an old man came into the pub one evening, looking for assistance because his car had been going badly and stopped about 100 yards up the road and now wouldn't start.

Spitting in my pint to discourage my friends from swigging from it, I went off to help.

I soon ascertained that there was plenty of fuel in the carburettor, but then found no spark. Removing the distributor cap, I could see that the points were not touching. With the aid of my Swiss Officers Army Knife, I removed the points and quickly polished them up a bit, on the only rough surface handy which was the rusty cast iron exhaust manifold.

Using the tooth pick to hold the points apart, I reassembled the distributor and to the owner's delight, the engine leapt into life as soon as he pulled the starter.

He very kindly drove me back to the pub and insisted on buying me a pint, which was very welcome, because, although my friends had gone, I had found my tankard on the table, covered with a beer mat, inscribed with the words "We all spat in your pint before we left".

Coincidence or Happenstance ? It is not what you know, but who you know, when in trouble.


Yesterday, I met up with a friend at the Hay Festival, he is widowed and had won two tickets.

Because his wife was French, they had always driven a Citroen 2CV, but in an act of defiance, he came in a recently acquired Morris 1,000 Traveller.

It was reluctant to start as he drove me to a pub, and after a bottle of Gloucestershire "Three Choirs" wine with our languid lunch, a French gremlin refused to let it start as we returned.

A quick check revealed no sign of a spark, so off came the Distributor cap revealing very sad looking points. In that instant, I knew what it was like to be a Cowboy, without his six shooter, as I realised that in donning my smart grey flannels, I was bereft of my Swiss Officer's Army Knife.

Casting around for something with which to remove the points, I spied a Skip. Fortunately, someone needing a chisel had discarded their now handleless screwdriver, and as a bonus, there was a slither from a 1MM cutting disk to abrade the points.

If this is going to keep happening, it might be worth arming myself with a set of points when I go to the pub.

To answer your question, yes I would lol