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baldessariclan
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 1378
Location: Wichita, KS
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 Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:20 am Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| glutamodo wrote: |
| Dark Earth wrote: |
| If the points look ugly, sometimes you can get away with cleaning them up with a "point file" or "ignition file". |
I own several point files. I find that "sometimes" is more like "seldom"... and none of them are worth using. Not on the hardened steel points that have been sold the last several decades. |
Aren't the ignition points usually made from / tipped with tungsten, or something like that? In any case, I agree that they seem to be super-hard stuff, and those files will usually barely touch them, unless the pitting / deposits are pretty small.
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver
baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt... |
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AlmostHeavenWV_VW 
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017
Posts: 1965
Location: WV
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:29 am Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| baldessariclan wrote: |
| glutamodo wrote: |
| Dark Earth wrote: |
| If the points look ugly, sometimes you can get away with cleaning them up with a "point file" or "ignition file". |
I own several point files. I find that "sometimes" is more like "seldom"... and none of them are worth using. Not on the hardened steel points that have been sold the last several decades. |
Aren't the ignition points usually made from / tipped with tungsten, or something like that? In any case, I agree that they seem to be super-hard stuff, and those files will usually barely touch them, unless the pitting / deposits are pretty small. |
That plus the questionable quality/hardness of the files available today to purchase makes it much less likely to have any success in 'filing' the points.
I have a file, but it's for the off chance that I have mis-placed my spare points set. Emergency "get it home because I have no service to call AAA" kind of thing.
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor |
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Frodge
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006
Posts: 1991
Location: Dump
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 11:01 am Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| So they don’t make files hard enough to file points any longer? |
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AlmostHeavenWV_VW
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017
Posts: 1965
Location: WV
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 11:08 am Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| Frodge wrote: |
| So they don’t make files hard enough to file points any longer? |
"Filing" "sanding" or "scratching" anything requires you to use a tool which is has a higher hardness than the item you are attempting to file.
If your points' material is softer than your file, the points are filed by the file.
If your file's material is softer than the points, the file is 'filed' by the points.
It's an interesting topic, actually:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_scale
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor |
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Frodge
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006
Posts: 1991
Location: Dump
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| AlmostHeavenWV_VW wrote: |
| Frodge wrote: |
| So they don’t make files hard enough to file points any longer? |
"Filing" "sanding" or "scratching" anything requires you to use a tool which is has a higher hardness than the item you are attempting to file.
If your points' material is softer than your file, the points are filed by the file.
If your file's material is softer than the points, the file is 'filed' by the points.
It's an interesting topic, actually:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_scale |
I understand that. I have files that will file points down. I’ve done it before. |
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AlmostHeavenWV_VW
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017
Posts: 1965
Location: WV
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| Frodge wrote: |
I understand that. I have files that will file points down. I’ve done it before. |
Okay, hang on to it. It's just the new 'normal' with tools and parts- poor quality and poor materials.
China made stuff just isn't always up to spec, ya know? We've all experienced the poor quality control of some manufacturers.
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor |
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Frodge
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006
Posts: 1991
Location: Dump
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| Maybe eBay you can get some old files that will work. I personally stay away from chinesium. |
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Frodge
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006
Posts: 1991
Location: Dump
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| I also buy nos points. I try to get all the oem stuff when i can. It’s around. |
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bnam
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 2936
Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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Yesterday I discovered that these points can be split into 2 by compressing the spring and pulling it off. It made filing the points much easier working on 2 separate pieces.
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Zundfolge1432
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12467
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| Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| Frodge wrote: |
| Maybe eBay you can get some old files that will work. I personally stay away from chinesium. |
Boy not me, I have a cot in back room of harbor freight. Oh I love it so.  |
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Frodge
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006
Posts: 1991
Location: Dump
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| Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| Zundfolge1432 wrote: |
| Frodge wrote: |
| Maybe eBay you can get some old files that will work. I personally stay away from chinesium. |
Boy not me, I have a cot in back room of harbor freight. Oh I love it so. |
I learned that lesson a long time ago. |
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runamoc
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006
Posts: 5600
Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: point gap/dwell |
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| Quote: |
| filing the points much easier working on 2 separate pieces. |
Are the points still parallel after that?
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