Point Gap Changes

[Zippy]

It seems that no matter how tight I get that screw to hold the points in position, they move. I have found that after driving for about 1000 miles my car starts to sputter and die. When I check the points the gap is down to nothing. Is there supposed to be a star washer or something under that screw? All I have is a lock washer and it doesn't lock anything.

[Danno]

I can't remember, but have you tied any loctite?

[mgbgtn]

Did you lube the dist cam rub block on the points? Wear here will cause the points to close.

[So Cal Mark]

have you checked the shaft for looseness?

[bradartigue]

It seems that no matter how tight I get that screw to hold the points in position, they move. I have found that after driving for about 1000 miles my car starts to sputter and die. When I check the points the gap is down to nothing. Is there supposed to be a star washer or something under that screw? All I have is a lock washer and it doesn't lock anything.

If it is old then that little screw isn't gripping much. Use a tiny amount of loctite (the one that isn't so extreme and I don't know if that is red or blue). I have a brand new points dizzy here and it has a star under the retention screw not a lock washer, but I have an old one and it has a lock washer.

[Zippy]

Thanks guys, I'll check all those things and see how it works out. Mark, where would this looseness be? Are you talking about the clamp that holds the distributor in place? That is fine.

[So Cal Mark]

no, the actual center shaft. With the cap off, see if you can move the shaft back and forth. Any looseness there will cause the point gap to constantly change. The suggestion about cam lube on the points rubbing block is a good one, points will wear quickly without any lube there

[Zippy]

Mark,

Thanks, I'll check that.

Al