Points don?t seem to fit my RDS-21B

Jerry900

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
30
I have a 1959 Johnson 35HP RDS-21B. My repair manual says the points are Part No. 580148, so I bought the Sierra ?contact set 18-5156? which ?REPLACES: JOHNSON/EVENRUDE 580148?. Three things don?t seem right.

1- When I installed the points, I had to raise the coils about 1 / 4 inch in order to put the base in place. The bar with the hole in it to receive the indent in the flat retainer hit the coil heels and would not let the base drop down over the eccentric until I raised the coils.

2- The two halves of the points were a long way from parallel.

3- The full range of the eccentric could not bring the two halves of the points to within 0.020?.

I either have the wrong points or I don?t know what. Tomorrow I plan to tear everything down again and compare the old and new points. Any ideas ? Thanks for any help.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Points don?t seem to fit my RDS-21B

There are only two sets of points, 580148 for the twins and 580290 for the V-4s. The difference in the base part is obvious at a glance. If what you have "looks right", I don't know. Let's hope Sierra isn't screwing up...again.
 

Jerry900

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
30
Re: Points don?t seem to fit my RDS-21B

The new parts right out of the Sierra bag don't match the old parts!

I compared the old and new points by placing the old base on a piece of paper and then drawing an outline. Then I placed the new piece over the outline. They didn't match very well, so I lined up the hole patterns. That was a close fit. The vertical bar with the hole in it was 1 / 16 inches farther in the direction of the coil. The points on the base were 5 / 64 inches farther in the direction away from the coil (wider gap). I can't use these points!
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Points don?t seem to fit my RDS-21B

So, yet another Sierra Screw-up!!!
 

Jerry900

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
30
Re: Points don?t seem to fit my RDS-21B

I bought the contact set made by JOHNSON/EVENRUDE, part number 580148.
They dropped right in place. I guess I will stay away from replacement parts by Sierra. How are the other replacement parts manufacturers?
 
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