Topic: please explain why this worked.

[lostmykeys]

 I have a 78 f3 that would ping from a start under certain throttle aplications and only after a long ride.
 This is after the 3000 mile tune up by the way new oil,new air filter,cam chain and valve adjustment,points set gap at 14,carbs cleaned,timing set using strobe method yada yada...
 Today I decide to decrease my point gap to 12 and to my surprise,no more ping.Did I retard the timing by doing this?

[Bailgang]

Yes. Leaving the points plate itself alone then decreasing the gap makes the points break contact later compared to the same points with a larger gap thus retarding the timing and of course advancing timing when increasing the gap.

[Bailgang]

The more I think about it the more I realize my previous response doesn't really explain why. The explanation  is actually simple however the problem is that it's hard to describe so that you can visualize it. Hopefully someone else can explain it better than me.

[scottly]

Yes. Leaving the points plate itself alone then decreasing the gap makes the points break contact later

Correct.

[bollingball]

That is why it is important to do a tuneup in order points first then timing. Also that is a problem with those off brand point you run out of slot for timing because the points geometry is off. What is the brand name of your points.

Ken

[lostmykeys]

 Tek points and plate.
 Wow I thought the opposite reguarding point gap,live and learn thanks guys!

[lostmykeys]

Bailgang,I am of the visual type but I do thank you for your response!

[bollingball]

I think you ment TEC those are the good ones.

Ken

[lostmykeys]

 Yes, TEC thats what I meant.When I can find the time I'm going Pamco.

[Gurp]

I think this info will help me too. Always being a sbc kind of guy when i got my cb550 i set my plugs to .35 and my points to a matchbook. Lol

[bollingball]

Yes, TEC thats what I meant.When I can find the time I'm going Pamco.

I have heard the pamco is a good setup. But I still like HondaMans better.  Even though it has not happen but once years ago. I want to be able to go back to points at 2am in the middle of nowhere. a long way from any help. I emailed yesterday but something is wrong with PayPal.

Ken

[MCRider]

I think this info will help me too. Always being a sbc kind of guy when i got my cb550 i set my plugs to .35 and my points to a matchbook. Lol

35thou is a bit wide. The matchbook trick was clever. The lid itself was around 15thou. But the sticks were about 25thou so you could use them as plug gauges. Close enough to get it running.

[Deltarider]

when i got my cb550 i set my plugs to .35

That's too wide. You'll experience misses when under load like going uphill. Electrodes will erode faster too.

[lostmykeys]

 So do the points last longer with a smaller gap or larger gap?

[lucky]

So do the points last longer with a smaller gap or larger gap?

The spark has a harder time jumping across a wide gap.

I do not think the points would be effected adversely. The electronic experts would need to check in on this.

[Mooshie]

Yes, TEC thats what I meant.When I can find the time I'm going Pamco.

I have heard the pamco is a good setup. But I still like HondaMans better.  Even though it has not happen but once years ago. I want to be able to go back to points at 2am in the middle of nowhere. a long way from any help. I emailed yesterday but something is wrong with PayPal.

Ken

+1 on Hondamans transistorized ignition. 

[lostmykeys]

 Something has allways been wrong with paypal.If you dont believe me go to paypalsucks.com.Nobody is emune to their craziness.Do youself a favor and check it out.....perfect feedback and thousands of transactions means nothing to this company.You or someone you know will experience their wrath at some point even though you were a perfect customer.

[TwoTired]

So do the points last longer with a smaller gap or larger gap?

Larger.  But, it would probably be difficult to measure.  And, it depends on the condition of other components in the ignition system.

[lucky]

Something has allways been wrong with paypal.If you dont believe me go to paypalsucks.com.Nobody is emune to their craziness.Do youself a favor and check it out.....perfect feedback and thousands of transactions means nothing to this company.You or someone you know will experience their wrath at some point even though you were a perfect customer.

?

[lostmykeys]

 Thanks for the response two tired.
Lucky,I provided enough for you to do you own research and that sight will lead you to other sights.
 We are talking millions of unsatisfied costomers that were taken advantage of by this company.....and they played by paypals rules.
 Not all is well and good in the P.C. world we live in these days.Just like any other time past or present the smart ones watch and learn and dont step in the dog poo."Watch out were the huskeys go and dont you eat that yellow snow" The late Frank Zappa

[Gurp]

"Watch out were the huskeys go and dont you eat that yellow snow" The late Frank Zappa

+1

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks for the response two tired.
Lucky,I provided enough for you to do you own research and that sight will lead you to other sights.
 We are talking millions of unsatisfied costomers that were taken advantage of by this company.....and they played by paypals rules.
 Not all is well and good in the P.C. world we live in these days.Just like any other time past or present the smart ones watch and learn and dont step in the dog poo."Watch out were the huskeys go and dont you eat that yellow snow" The late Frank Zappa

I think that has to do more with your consumer protection laws than anything else, ours are very strict. I had one dispute with paypal over a mistake they made trying to take funds from a non existent bank account instead of my nominated credit card, i was charged overdraw fees by both my bank and paypal, one phone call to paypal here in Australia and one to my bank and all was fixed, actually i was very surprised at how fast they fixed the problem.

[bollingball]

I talked with HondaMan and he is taking money orders. So you can still get your parts from him. I'm willing to wait on snail mail to get his top notch parts. I think anyone who has bought his parts will agree with that.

Ken

[bollingball]

I think this info will help me too. Always being a sbc kind of guy when i got my cb550 i set my plugs to .35 and my points to a matchbook. Lol

SBC ??

[Bailgang]

SBC ??

Small Block Chevy.

.035 was pretty much the spark plug gap for all points ignition cars before HEI and other electronic ignitions came standard on cars and the matchbook thing was popular with back yard mechanics as well. The thickness of a matchbook was pretty close to the gap needed for the points, (on cars that is) at least close enough to get an engine running after installing a new set of points.

[Gurp]

Glad to see some v8 guys on soch4 bailgang. I grew up worrking on older cars. Even though im a wee pup myself at 22yrs i picked up alot of tricks from the old dogs lol.