Technical When changing points...

[wilharper2000]

What do I need to adjust.
Got the dizzy sitting in front of me in bits because I'm overhauling it. I bought a new condenser and points cassette and a can of slicon spray.

When putting in the cassette do I need to adjust anything on it like dwell angle, and when its fitted will the timing be the same if I line it up to the marks I scored on the engine.

Also in Haynes it says I need silicon paste, will slicone spray do, and a bit of ordinary grease.
I booked the car in to have new shells put in for the big end (hoping thats all that needs doing) cos I can't find a decent engine

Sorry about all the questions, I can't go anywhere at the moment as its my only source of transport.

Thanks
Will

 

[petel]

You will not be able to adjust dwell until the engine is running so its just static timing for now. As to silicone, I prefer to use a light smear of a thick, high melting point grease, enough to coat the cams but not enough to get thrown around inside the dizzy. Your scribed lines on removing the dizzy should see it go back roughly where it should be but as you have changed the points, you should re-time. Details will be in your Haynes manual.

Are you sure you got the right set of points? There are three types and they are handed. I assume you have a Marelli dizzy so check that you can put a 3mm Allen key through the hole in the body of the dizzy to the Allen head of the fixed point screw. If not, take the points set back.
Rgds.

 

[wilharper2000]

Thanks, I put it all back together today and after a bit of cursing got it running again.
Although I didn't drive it because its now leaking hugely from the dizzy even though I put a new seal on from my head gasket pack. Its the right size but the seal is rounded rather than flattened off, should this matter to much, its definitly the right size because I have to wiggle the dizzy onto the side of the engine.

Also just found out my mum and dad have got me some cinq sporting alloys for christmas, WOOO!

Will

 

[default_user]

Have you taken the dizzy back off to check the seal? Sounds like you might have nipped it clean through when putting the dizzy back on. It's easily done, especially if you didn't lubricate it before trying to push the dizzy back on. Also when replacing the dizzy make sure it goes back into it's aperture dead straight to help the seal go in properly.

 

[JimMagill]

Can anyone tell me what he dwell angle is as I've not got my manual with me and I'm a bit stuck

Also once I set the dwell whats the timing TDC thingy?

HELP?

Jim

 

[JimMagill]

For future reference....

I've just re-read one of the earlier posts and see its a '91 model:
points in the distributor, if still standard.

The points wear, and the heel which follows the cam wears too.
Too little gap mucks up the dwell angle (and the coil doesn't get sufficient time with the points open for a nice healthy spark).

If the points are serviceable, but worn, you can readjust the dwell angle with a 3mm hex key down a hole in the side of the distributor, while it is running, to 51 to 55 degrees.
(you'll get some sparks if you touch the sides of the hole and the end at the same time, but don't panic, as you're "only" shorting out the points, and the back EMF pulses there are just a few hundred volts. A bit of tape around the shank of the key keeps the sparks down, but the voltage is still there - don't lean sweaty bits against the car body when you adjust this )

Without dwell meter, new points gap 0.42 to 0.48mm.
You can't really set worn ones with a feeler gauge due to metal transfer between the contact surfaces.

Replacing these points is a lot of work - you need to remove the vacuum advance cartridge

When the dwell is correct, re check the timing as they interact.