new points

[bspeth]

I have been told that new points come with a coating on them that needs to be removed,how do you guys remove it?

 

[Bondo]

Re: new points

I have been told that new points come with a coating on them that needs to be removed,how do you guys remove it?

Ayuh,... Never heard that, 'n never had a problem,...

 

[alldodge]

Re: new points

Only ones I have ever seen with a coating on them were the ones in the bottom of my tool box.

 

[JustJason]

Re: new points

There might be a little bit of packing oil on them. And if there is clean them up with a little bit of electrical contact cleaner, brake cleaner, acetone ect.

 

[ziggy]

Re: new points

i emery (worn emery cloth) cloth my last years points to see if my engine will run when i do my summerization (first start of the season). the old points do get glazed from the previous season and the winter layup.
if it runs. i replace the points (new ones at the beginning of the season every spring). i don't do anything to the new ones short of setting dwell. so far, they all have lasted till the following summerization begins again.

 

[gm280]

Re: new points

I have been told that new points come with a coating on them that needs to be removed,how do you guys remove it?

As others have stated above, I had no issue with a coating on points that I ever used. However, depending on manufacturer, I have seen some points that were bend so they would not contact parallel to the adjacent (mating) contact before. Look over the points closed and make such they are closed and parallel to the other side. In other words no gap between them. Then install, set and happy boating...

ziggy, I understand your yearly ritual is working for you, but I have never had a set of points ever wear out in a years time frame. In fact I never had a points problem in my life that caused the engine to not start... But to each their own...

 

[thompson80]

Re: new points

i emery (worn emery cloth) cloth my last years points to see if my engine will run when i do my summerization (first start of the season). the old points do get glazed from the previous season and the winter layup.
if it runs. i replace the points (new ones at the beginning of the season every spring). i don't do anything to the new ones short of setting dwell. so far, they all have lasted till the following summerization begins again.

Isn't that a no-no, using emery cloth? Isn't a points file the proper & preferred way to dress a used set of points?

 

[ziggy]

Re: new points

Isn't that a no-no, using emery cloth?

yes, it's a no no. however they get a glaze over the winter. all i want to do is see if it'll run. if i have other problems, points may be the least of my concern. if it does run and all looks well. i replace the points anyways and do my minor tune up for spring recommissioning.

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: new points

The last set of points I bought came with a coating. I had to use my bench grinder to remove it.
Well, you can probably guess how that turned out so the next set I special ordered with no coating. Took 6 weeks to get since they were backordered.

LOL

 

[redneck joe]

Re: new points

the guy at my marina that helped me out last weekend replacing mine (an old boat guy) used a dollar bill to rub it a few times before he installed.

 

[gm280]

Re: new points

View points as nothing more then a mechanical switch, because that IS all they really are. And what usually makes points pit or burn, is a current flowing through them. They tend to spark when opening and that IS what the condenser's job is. It is parallel to the points to help eliminate that spark by storing up the current right when they start to open. The condenser is basically shorted out while the point are in their closed position. When the points just start to open, which is also the time a spark would occur, the condenser take the charge of the current and as the points continue to open the spark opportune is removed and the coil comes in to play in the circuit. Really a very neat little circuit that works amazingly well...