Topic: Why you cannot .....

[lucky]

The reason you cannot adjust used points with a thickness gauge even if you file or sandpaper the points contacts.
Sometimes the contacts will have many mounds or holes.
If you file them then the spark can occur between the the flat surface and the bottom of a hole and it will be like the points gap is too large.
CLICK ON PHOTO for a larger view.

[754]

 I set mine with a feeler guage after emerying or filing, folowed by a cleaning.
Then 90 % of the time I set the timing , by eye watching when it opened.. they ALWAYS ran well.. I also did not find a noticeable problem using rubber end pods.. What am I doing wrong ??

[LesterPiglet]

The spark will always take the shortest route, it will not arc at the bottom of a pit.

[Deltarider]

To all that consider to buy a (new) DMM. Have one with Dwell and Tacho function. It's a joy.

[Bodi]

The points arc on opening. There's no difference in where the arc occurs. For timing with a strobe or static light, contact condition makes no difference. If you set the gap with a dwell meter, again no difference. It makes a difference if you measure the gap to set dwell.
You have to dress the points before gapping because you need to measure between relatively flat surfaces. You file off the "bumps" so you aren't measuring inaccurately. The "valleys" aren't as important, but getting both surfaces flat gives a larger contact are as long as they touch flat to each other.

[lucky]

I set mine with a feeler guage after emerying or filing, folowed by a cleaning.
Then 90 % of the time I set the timing , by eye watching when it opened.. they ALWAYS ran well.. I also did not find a noticeable problem using rubber end pods.. What am I doing wrong ??

Sounds good to me BUT...did you check the dwell also?
You did not say what year those pods are on.

[lucky]

The points arc on opening. There's no difference in where the arc occurs. For timing with a strobe or static light, contact condition makes no difference. If you set the gap with a dwell meter, again no difference. It makes a difference if you measure the gap to set dwell.
You have to dress the points before gapping because you need to measure between relatively flat surfaces. You file off the "bumps" so you aren't measuring inaccurately. The "valleys" aren't as important, but getting both surfaces flat gives a larger contact are as long as they touch flat to each other.

Quote:
"The points arc on opening. There's no difference in where the arc occurs."

The points arc (release the feild the coil to the plugs, which has built up when the gap is right, and the capacitor prevents the points from arcing until that gap (resistance is met.)

[lucky]

When I see a set of points that have a lot of holes and mounds I do not bother filing or sanding them BECAUSE the plastic block that rubs on the points cam is usually worn down by that time and they are not adjustable anyway. The dwell and gap can not come into adjustment.