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Author Topic: pitted points  (Read 4736 times)

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cafe-starter

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pitted points
« on: July 17, 2006, 11:13:01 AM »
the point for cylnder 2+3 are very pitted. would this be the cause for my rough idle
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Offline grumburg

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2006, 11:30:24 AM »
Certainly wouldn't help! Easy to change. Was always told pitted points means a bad condenser.
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Offline Rushoid

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2006, 11:35:49 AM »
Could very well be. I had a bear of a time getting mine to idle right when I first got it. Discovered very slight pitting on the 2&3 points. Replaced those (and condensor)and it ran fine.
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Boomologist

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2006, 10:05:59 AM »
Must be showing my age. Went to a national auto parts store last week and asked the clerk for a point file. The dumb looks I got from him and his manager were priceless.  ;D
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #4 on: July 18, 2006, 01:20:52 PM »
hahahahaha i can imagine
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mark
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Offline keiths

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2006, 07:38:10 PM »
I misplaced mine and went to Auto Zone for a file but they had no idea either. Went to the mom and pop auto store and got one for a buck.
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Offline grumburg

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2006, 08:09:26 AM »
Like trying to find a dwell tach. Finally found one at a garage sale (Craftsman, never opened) for a $1. Thinking of donating to the AMA museum.
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eldar

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2006, 08:24:31 AM »
kinda shows another reason to move to an electronic ignition. I still got my points and for me it is a small source of pride i na twisted way I suppose. I can talk bikes and say that I have points and if someone tries to make fun of me, I can say, "well if your ign goes out, you walk home. If mine goes out, I eyeball the gap and check my timing quick and ride on."
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Boomologist

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2006, 08:47:53 AM »
I still prefer points over electronic unless the engine is doing something like redline at 15k rpm
On one of the two occasions when I did have trouble with the points while driving, it was a simple matter of taking a "bobby pin"  to hold things together until I got home. The other time was a wire rubbed bare and when the vacuum advance operated it would short the points to ground. Boy, am I showing my age now, "bobby pins", vacuum advance,.......
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2006, 10:20:44 AM »
You can get a point file at any drug store. It is called an Emery board. About 10 for $2.00.
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But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Boomologist

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2006, 10:52:17 AM »
Quote from: BobbyR on July 19, 2006, 10:20:44 AM
You can get a point file at any drug store. It is called an Emery board. About 10 for $2.00.

I have used those and also the striker part on a book of matches. Problem with an abrasive like those and sandpaper, they will leave a small amount of "grit" on the points which will also contribute to pitting.
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eldar

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2006, 11:00:46 AM »
You do have to clean the crud off but that is part of dressing your points.
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2006, 11:32:03 AM »
Quote from: Boomologist on July 19, 2006, 08:47:53 AM
I still prefer points over electronic unless the engine is doing something like redline at 15k rpm
On one of the two occasions when I did have trouble with the points while driving, it was a simple matter of taking a "bobby pin"  to hold things together until I got home. The other time was a wire rubbed bare and when the vacuum advance operated it would short the points to ground. Boy, am I showing my age now, "bobby pins", vacuum advance,.......
vacuum advance?what kind of bike were you riding? ;D
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mark
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1998 cbr600 f3

Offline BobbyR

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2006, 12:29:51 PM »
Quote from: Boomologist on July 19, 2006, 10:52:17 AM
Quote from: BobbyR on July 19, 2006, 10:20:44 AM
You can get a point file at any drug store. It is called an Emery board. About 10 for $2.00.

I have used those and also the striker part on a book of matches. Problem with an abrasive like those and sandpaper, they will leave a small amount of "grit" on the points which will also contribute to pitting.

Nah, any small amount of grit is simply wiped away. The nice part is that they are disposable, so you won't redeposit the crap back onto your next set of contacts.
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Boomologist

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2006, 12:48:48 PM »
>>>vacuum advance?what kind of bike were you riding? <<<
That was on an old car :D

Had an old 49 Dodge (still have it) that split the diaphragm in the vacuum advance. In the summer when it was hot, you could shut the car off and when you went to start it again the distributor cap would blow off with a bang that sounded like a gun firing. Seems that gas vapor would seep into the distributor through the vacuum advance. Then when the points opened and gave a spark, BANG! I'd have to open the hood and put the cap back on. Scared more than one person in the parking lot at the store. ;D
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #15 on: July 19, 2006, 01:03:45 PM »
Quote
Nah, any small amount of grit is simply wiped away.

Gotta disagree with that.  Silica is harder than the contact material, but more brittle.  Small pieces break off and embed into the soft contact material that can't be simply wiped away.  Unfortunately, silica is an insulator and these particles increase the contact resistance and heating effects.  So, they pit and burn faster, needing more frequent dressing.

The phone companies used relays with the same style point contacts for a good many years.  They had contact refurbishment down to a fine art.  Only use silica based abrasives on points in dire emergencies.  Then replace your contaminated points at the earliest opportunity.

BTW, if you can't find a "points file", get a relay contact file.  Wherever fine electrical supplies are sold. ;D
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eldar

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #16 on: July 19, 2006, 01:25:54 PM »
I would have loved to see that boomie! ;D
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #17 on: July 19, 2006, 02:24:55 PM »
Quote from: Boomologist on July 19, 2006, 12:48:48 PM
>>>vacuum advance?what kind of bike were you riding? <<<
That was on an old car :D

Had an old 49 Dodge (still have it) that split the diaphragm in the vacuum advance. In the summer when it was hot, you could shut the car off and when you went to start it again the distributor cap would blow off with a bang that sounded like a gun firing. Seems that gas vapor would seep into the distributor through the vacuum advance. Then when the points opened and gave a spark, BANG! I'd have to open the hood and put the cap back on. Scared more than one person in the parking lot at the store. ;D

Boom, I have seen that happen. It makes quite a pop. Those were the days when you only needed a couple of screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench, a hammer or two, coathanger, and some duct tape to keep your car running. Good solid Beer cans and clamps if you wanted to get serious.
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Offline grumburg

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #18 on: July 19, 2006, 06:15:20 PM »
Quote from: Boomologist on July 19, 2006, 12:48:48 PM
>>>vacuum advance?what kind of bike were you riding? <<<
That was on an old car :D

Had an old 49 Dodge (still have it) that split the diaphragm in the vacuum advance. In the summer when it was hot, you could shut the car off and when you went to start it again the distributor cap would blow off with a bang that sounded like a gun firing. Seems that gas vapor would seep into the distributor through the vacuum advance. Then when the points opened and gave a spark, BANG! I'd have to open the hood and put the cap back on. Scared more than one person in the parking lot at the store. ;D
Kind of an early nitrous system. Probably the inspiration for "Chrysler Firepower"  ;D
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Offline techy5025

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #19 on: July 19, 2006, 08:37:38 PM »
Regards...pitted points.  With too low a value of condenser, the points will pit
on one side....with too high a value on the other.  So a worn out condenser
would cause one side to pit as they never increase in value with age..

Jim
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Offline Rushoid

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Re: pitted points
« Reply #20 on: July 20, 2006, 07:42:32 AM »
Quote from: techy5025 on July 19, 2006, 08:37:38 PM
Regards...pitted points.  With too low a value of condenser, the points will pit
on one side....with too high a value on the other.  So a worn out condenser
would cause one side to pit as they never increase in value with age..

Jim

Unless, of course, they're "sandcast" condensers.  ::) ;D ;D
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