Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Ignition System

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 142.68.32.163
Old 08-13-2007, 05:05 PM
joeamelia's Avatar
joeamelia joeamelia is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 27
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
points and more questions

Hi all, I have been intimidated by points, condensers, and distributors for ever, to the extent I have never touched mine, and since we are planning on doing the great loop starting next may (with our atomic 4), I was going to buy an electronic ignition.
Over the weekend, after a beautiful sail, the motor would not start. I was unable to sail into our dock, so I tied up on the seawall, and followed our troubleshooting guide.
I had spark to the end of the coil wire, and its the weekend, so I had to delve into the distributor.
The points were not separating when the distributor shaft turned, so I adjusted the point on threads (screwed it in) until there was a separation, then I turned the key, and there was spark! I am impressed with myself, and the discussions on this list (fortunately I had an internet connection).
I am now ready to replace the points, condenser, etc.
My question is, how will I remove the existing points? (Prestolite distributor).
It appears that I would just loosen the side nut (that the wires are connected to) and the points lift out. Is this correct?
Are directions included with the tune up kit you sell?
Next question is about timing. If I replace it all without removing the distributor (preferable), will I need to do anything with the timing?

thanks for all your help!
Joe

ps, I received the new raw water pump (greaseless) and its beautiful! It was intended as my spare for the trip (the one on is still the old gear pump, works great) but I will probably install the new one (no grease to worry about, and will probably pump better) and keep the old one as the spare.
Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 38.118.52.41
Old 08-19-2007, 09:52 PM
Don Moyer's Avatar
Don Moyer Don Moyer is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,811
Thanks: 0
Thanked 183 Times in 124 Posts
Joe,

The short answer to your question is "yes", removing the terminal nut on the side of the distributor housing will enable you to slide the terminal bolt into the housing until the points assembly can be lifted out. Assuming the insulating materials are all intact, you can insert the new points in the same manner as the old ones came out. The insulating materials include the sheet which lays between the spring of the points and the housing and the fiber spacers.

The stationary part of the points unthreads from its mounting post after loosening the tiny lock nut. Please be careful not to drop that tiny lock
nut!

If you decide to remove the distributor to change the points, bump the engine over with the starter until the rotor points to a convenient reference point so that when you reinstall the distributor, you can align the rotor to the exact same location.

Set the point gap to .020" when the points are at their widest.

Don
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved