Breaker points ignitions are horrible for maintaining settings and maximum
performance.
Now, now, now, if someone would say: that's an exaggeration, I would call that an understatement.
We need to get TwoTired's opinion on this...
Really? Why? Hasn't the whole thread turned into a popular opinion poll? Hasn't had much to do with reality or physics for quite some time. And the most emphatic insertions have had major hyperbole and little factual/technical data. Mostly because, who can really argue if your unsupported opinion is wrong, or the unsupported collective opinion is wrong? Not all lynchings or witch burnings were justified, even if they WERE popular.
Oh, I like blue better than black or yellow. Maybe we should start a thread for best primary color? Will all those that don't wear a red bandanna receive a free drive by?
Yes, I'm being sarcastic.
Probably from being bitter, or disillusioned about some forum members.
All that aside, I think Holden is actually a fact seeker, hoping to find some of that before forming an opinion. I recognize this as different from the forum at large, who prefer opinion first and then gathering in only those "facts" or widely accepted observations, that support the desired opinion. (There is yet another faction that says "me too" when the sway of popularity is first established.)
Technically speaking, point systems are stone reliable, primarily because they are based on minerals that have existed for millennia. There is nothing that doesn't have drawbacks/trade offs. Yes, if you rub a stone long enough it will wear down. If you mistreat points, they will give you problems. If you fire a shotgun at either points or electronic system they will both fail. Beyond straight mechanical wear, the heating of the contact surfaces during the time the contacts are made and broken. During these transitional times the contact area is reduced and current flowing through small cross sections generate heat. Like using too small a wire for the current being carried. There is also the back EMF from the charged coil to consider. Considering what they withstand, they do a danged fine job, and history has recorded numerous race champions who used points in the winning machines. So, when someone demands they are inferior, and can't preform, can you believe them?
There are thousands of airplanes still flying today where point contacts are routinely used along with magnetos. Typical service intervals for these systems are about 1000 hours at 75% power rating for the entire engine. But, of course, there are certainly some differences between mag systems and other point systems.
Back to what antagonists want to hear, yes, points wear mechanically, and this does gradually change the spark characteristics. Fast or slow in time is relative to your own personal tolerance. The tune up schedule for the SOHC4 is 3000 miles. When I check the timing, it may (or may not) have drifted off one or two degrees. If it has, a couple swipes with a point file to make them smooth again, then resetting just the gap brings it right back into proper time. If such a process is too grievous, beyond your ability, or sneeringly distasteful, then you should spend the money to avoid it. I find that minor task more attractive than shelling out $100-$300 for "improved" ignition and depriving me of what other things that money can buy for me. I find that spending money I don't need to, is "horrible". Investing that money in bonds or retirement funds will make it FAR more valuable and appreciated later in life. (wish I'd learned THAT years ago.)
Properly designed, electronic switches should be more stable for a greater duration of time and use without further adjustment. It still needs to be checked, though.
Presently, I dispute whether simply swapping points for an electronic switch, makes a gnat's ass worth of difference in and of itself for the machine's "performance" (which has a rather broad definition). All the "modern" ignitions have changed the ignition triggering device, along with coil, wire, and spark plug changes (particularly gap), to provide an entire ignition system overhaul. The reasons for each elemental change in the system are often coincident with other device changes in the system. I.E, High performance coils can make points and even early electronic switch triggers fry. So, another one is developed to enable the desired coil (or spark plug gap) to be used. Was the old electronic switch faulty, or simply used outside of the role it was originally intended? Can the same be said of points? And are you you using the points outside the role they were intended?
My 2007 VW Passat just had a recall to its "modern" ignition system. I'm not exactly sure what was replaced (under warranty), but I think it was the coil or coil driver. Anyway, to pass my next emission test I needed to have that piece of paper saying the work was done in order to pass the test. I didn't notice ANY change to how the car ran either before or after the work was done. So, do I accept that modern electronic ignitions last forever without failure? No. There isn't a machine made that can't ever break. Most will recognize that after learning of the Titanic.
Personally I think it is "horrible" to encourage others to spend money they don't need to. Kinda why I'm on this forum. Helping people make their bike work well, I feel, is better than telling them to take it to a "professional", or to buy this "thing" or widget, simply because it helps justify what I did, foolishly or not. I know it's not like what government wants, or trains people to act upon, but I like to make my own informed decisions based on knowledge, rather than what somebody decides for me or tells me to do.
Guess I'm a rebel.
