In short, either too wide or narrow a point gap will cause a misfire under load. I recommend setting your point gap with a feeler gauge and fine tuning with a dwell meter.
How do I know if my points are bad?
Here are some common symptoms that hint towards having failing points and condenser:Vehicle not starting. If your vehicle will not start, it is possible there is a problem somewhere within the points and condenser. Engine will not fire. Engine runs rough.Jan 11, 2016
What happens if you gap spark plugs too close?
When the spark plug gap is too narrow, or under specifications, the amount of room needed for the air-fuel mixture between the hot tip and the ground strap is decreased. The duration of the spark has less travel distance, thus not remaining hot enough with sufficient charge to ignite the air-fuel mixture.
How do you set a dwell point gap?
Your dwell, and thus your points gap, needs to be set before you get out the timing light. To set the dwell, remove the distributor cap and rotor, ground the coil wire and remove all the spark plugs from the engine.
Do spark plug gaps increase over time?
What Causes Spark Plugs To Wear Out? Every time a spark plug creates an arc of electricity, it very minimally shortens the electrodes. Over time, the gap between the electrodes grows larger. As this gap increases, more electricity is needed to spark ignition of the air/fuel mixture.
What are the symptoms of a weak ignition coil?
If your car is experiencing any of the problems listed below, you may have a faulty ignition coil on your hands:Engine misfires.Rough idle.A decrease in car power, especially in acceleration.Poor fuel economy.Difficulty starting the engine.Check engine light is on.Exhaust backfiring.Increased hydrocarbon emissions.More items •29 Sep 2020
How do you set timing dwell?
Loosen them only enough so the adjustment arm on the points move. Place a slot screwdriver in the adjustment slot on the points and have your assistant turn the engine over. Read the needle on the dwell meter. Turn the screwdriver clockwise to increase the dwell, or counterclockwise to decrease the dwell.
How do you test an ignition coil?
1:525:53How to Test Ignition Coils - YouTubeYouTube
Can you check dwell with a multimeter?
The Fluke meter can be easily calibrated to check the ignition points for the proper dwell angle, or degrees of distributor rotation, that governs the opening and closing of the ignition points.
Does spark plug gap affect timing?
The first effective parameter in sparking system would be the spark plug gap. Spark plug gap is a main factor affecting the performance of the engine depending on the engine structure. Maximum power values were obtained at 0.75 mm spark plug gap for both ignition timing values of 11°and 15°CA BTDC.