Re: Smoking the Points, 49 Super 8

Posted by JWL On 2012/11/21 17:25:03

ALM,

Good advice from previous posters.

You can check the charging system output easy enough with a volt meter on the battery terminals. High voltage should be 7.2 volts. High voltage is hard on contacts, bulbs, and other electrical equipment.

I always clean new distributor points with an electrical cleaner before installing. Oil on the contacts from manufacture or handling will cause them to arc and burn prematurely. Sometimes the contacts will corrode if a long shelf life item. A quick pass with a point file should clean them.

Of course proper gap is important and 0.016" is a good setting.

A bad distributor ground might be the cause too. Sometimes a separate ground wire from the distributor body to a good fastener on the engine is the answer.

Hope this helps, good luck.

(o[]o)