el_capitano_99 Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 Hi all. Ive had a 1600 Xflow westy for a about a year or so now. While blatting this week, engined died mid blat. AA came to rescue at which point the kind bloke said that my "points were closed" and that both points and condenser need replacing. I have not managed to find anything online (google, wscc site) to find out where to get replacements and how to change it. Apparently they should be changed yearly!! Does anyone know where i can get them from??? Is it the same thing as a distributor cap?? Many thanks, Mark PS Membership fee in post!! Quote
studbuckle Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 Your points are spring loaded contacts inside the distributor. A cam in the center of the distributor pushes a lever connected to one of the points. Whenever the cam pushes the lever, it opens the points. This causes the coil to suddenly lose its ground, generating a high-voltage pulse. The points also control the timing of the spark. They may have a vacuum advance or a centrifugal advance. These mechanisms advance the timing in proportion to engine load or engine speed. The condesnor is a capacitor that acts as an electrinoc cushion for the points. Your AA man saying the points are closed up mean that when the cam pushes them apart they no longer break the gap eithe because of maladjustement or more likely, they've built up spike and troughs on the surfaces over time. The Condensor may have failed first causing the problem with points. For an old style distributor like yours the standard 'service' is Plugs, points, condensor, oil and filters. You should change the points as often as you change the oil. i.e. every 12 months or more frequently if the engine has a hard life or high mileage. You'll need the parts from any motor factors or Halfords and a haynes manual for a car fitted with a 1600cc x-flow (or Kent) engine. Mk2 Escort is favourite. HTH Si Quote
Blatman Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 And to cure the points/condenser issues forever, fit an electroic ignition system. My favourite is the Lumenition Magnetronic system which is a doddle to fit, and mine was fit and forget... Quote
Martin Keene Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 Second vote for the Magnetronic. I've got the Lumntion optical system fitted and the magnetronic is a lot neater, it all fits under the dizzy cap. Quote
Roman Posted October 17, 2006 Posted October 17, 2006 Are the points adjustable? I am just about to set the timing and carb on my std tune (apart from a Webber 32/36 DGV 5A carb) 1600 x-flow. Does anyone have a copy that they could e-mail me of the haynes manual relating to the setting up of the timing and carb adjustments? Quote
scruffythefirst Posted October 17, 2006 Posted October 17, 2006 I'm pretty sure there is a standard ford dizzy out there with electronic innards for a crossflow. Maybe of an earlyish 1.3 fiesta or ford ka. I think there might have been a link to a locost builders site with the info on. Maybe now blatman is back he can do a search Quote
stu999 Posted October 17, 2006 Posted October 17, 2006 Are the points adjustable? Yup. The points are adjusted by turning the engine until the points have opened fully. Then, using feeler guages, the gap is checked/adjusted as appropiate, by slackening the fixing screw (or screws if Motorcraft). A good test of patience for the beginner... Gap depends on distributor make. Lucas or Bosch distributors require a gap of 15 thou, whereas the (rarer) Motorcraft item is 25 thou IIRC. Quote
scruffythefirst Posted October 17, 2006 Posted October 17, 2006 Found It - Free (ish) electronic ignition for a crossflow Quote
Roman Posted October 17, 2006 Posted October 17, 2006 Are the points adjustable? Yup. The points are adjusted by turning the engine until the points have opened fully. Then, using feeler guages, the gap is checked/adjusted as appropiate, by slackening the fixing screw (or screws if Motorcraft). A good test of patience for the beginner... Gap depends on distributor make. Lucas or Bosch distributors require a gap of 15 thou, whereas the (rarer) Motorcraft item is 25 thou IIRC. Thanks, thats just the information I needed. Quote
Hammy Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 The only adjustment on this carb is to set the tickover and the idle mixture - these don't normally need touching (unless you have a specific problem). It worth cleaning the element in the air filter or replacing it on a regular basis. Quote
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