Another dwell question

OG Velvet · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 12:29 pm Post subject: Another dwell question

Pulling my hair out. I cannot get the dwell set correctly. The meter says 40 or 52. No matter what I do, I cannot get it to 45-50. I have adjusted it by the smallest amount I can and it either jumps to 52 or goes down to 40. Seriously wtf?

77 2.0 FI

Been going through points every 200 miles or so. I hadn't been lubing the lobes. I've remedied that. New condenser. I can get the points set correctly.
_________________
'67 13 Window
'77 Westy
'69 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Honda Dream

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50338

If you have new points then set them to .018-.020" and don't worry too much about your dwell. The point gap is the same for most any application out there because of its importance, while the dwell varies all over the place from engine to engine and having it exactly to spec hardly matters on a fairly low revving 4 cylinder.

Tom Powell · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:54 pm Post subject:

My experience has been that the gap changes slightly as the point clamping screw is tightened. IIRC it usually closes a bit as the screw is tightened. You may have to start tightening at some setting other than the desired gap/dwell angle and hope to end up with a tight screw and the correct gap/dwell angle. It's a pain in the back to do this over and over again in the engine compartment. For my '69 camper I pull the distributor and set the set the gap on the workbench. I set the gap at a loose .016 and then check the dwell with the engine running. I check the dwell and timing with every oil change and valve adjustment. Usually nothing needs adjustment.

Dwell affects timing, but timing does not affect dwell.

It's tedious, but gets easier with experience.

Aloha
tp

OG Velvet · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:58 pm Post subject:

I took the the distributor out and reset the gap on the bench. Dwell now reads 44. I'm calling it good. Reset timing and it seems to work well.
_________________
'67 13 Window
'77 Westy
'69 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Honda Dream

OG Velvet · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:26 pm Post subject:

Another burned out set of points. Any ideas?
_________________
'67 13 Window
'77 Westy
'69 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Honda Dream

Tcash · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:57 pm Post subject:

SGKent · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:38 pm Post subject:

define burned out please. Show us a photo is you can
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

Vince Waldon · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:07 pm Post subject:

Pics would be great.

Back in the day another common cause of churning thru points was pinhole(s) in the vacuum advance (or retard) canisters... fuel-enriched air gets introduced to the inside of the distributor and the normal arching across the points (or rotor) gets hotter.

Easy thing to rule out as a suspect.
_________________
Vince Waldon Edmonton Alberta CANADA
1970 baywindow

therealfrogman · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:54 pm Post subject:

I have a pretty overpriced Dwell meter and honestly I would never bother to spend money on one again. My experience is similar and I have never come close to be near..... Shocked

_________________
73 Camper Tin Top/Type 4 1.8 engine, Single progressive EMPI carb, electronic ignition SVDA W/ Vacuum.

Really appreciate what Everett has done here. Almost like he hand picked some of you. I am very thankful for all the help I get here.

SGKent · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:59 pm Post subject:

I can usually make 2 degree changes. All you need do is tweak the points in the slot with a tiny tweak. Come on guys. If you must, put a remote starter on it and make the changes while you kick it over with the remote starter,
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

Glenn · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:02 pm Post subject:

SGKent · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:50 pm Post subject:

sparky892 · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:04 pm Post subject: Points

I am changing my dist back to dual vac and would like to know what would be the best points for my van?

72 westy 1700 dual carbs currently I have ict's and I am in the process of putting the stock PDSIT 32/34 back on as soon as I rebuild them?
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72 westy 1.7 dual carbs

OG Velvet · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:37 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the late reply. Burned out as in bus bucking like a bull and barely limped it home. Points had a pit on one side and a nub on the other. I've heard it's difficult to get good condensers. I've replaced that several times too.
_________________
'67 13 Window
'77 Westy
'69 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Honda Dream

OG Velvet · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:14 pm Post subject:

Ok. I just don't get it. I've gone through about 8 sets of points and four brand new condensers over the last six months. I just put a new set of points and condenser in yesterday and it's already bucking again. The points are already pitted. I really don't know what to do. What else could it be?
_________________
'67 13 Window
'77 Westy
'69 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Honda Dream

SGKent · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:19 pm Post subject:

does replacing the points stop the bucking?

What is the part number of the coil in it?
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

OG Velvet · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:59 pm Post subject:

Yes. Temporarily. Sometimes I will go a month. This last time I made it less than 10 miles.

I have a Bosch blue coil on it now. I've also had a Beru blue coil with the same results. (Not sure of part number at this second.)
_________________
'67 13 Window
'77 Westy
'69 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Honda Dream

timvw7476 · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:21 pm Post subject: Another dwell question

the Turkish Bosch cond. does suck, just slightly, but not that much.
check that little fiber plug in the center of your distributor shaft,
under the rotor, it's supposed to block crankcase vapor from going
up the shaft into your distributor & fouling things badly.
could be the tiny ground strap in the dist. too, the one that keeps the
advance plate grounded to the distributor body, some times they fray
away to a thread or two.

OG Velvet · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:31 pm Post subject:

The fiber plug looks good. I will check that ground tonight
_________________
'67 13 Window
'77 Westy
'69 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Honda Dream

Tcash · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:40 pm Post subject:

check the coil resistance as noted.
thanks to mayor ratwell.
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/BlueCoil.html

Good Luck
Tcash


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