Fouling Points?

[wubie317]

Recently, it seems that I'm going through points faster than normal. I can only keep a good smooth idle for a few hundred miles before there's a dusty gunk on the contacts. Any thoughts on what it means? Is this a symptom of a bigger problem?

[bradartigue]

(1) Do you have a ballast resistor? You need one if not. Some have an internal ballast (Bosch Blue), some do not (Marelli, FIAT OEM)
(2) Is there excessive play in the distributor shaft?

[wubie317]

(1) Do you have a ballast resistor? You need one if not. Some have an internal ballast (Bosch Blue), some do not (Marelli, FIAT OEM)
(2) Is there excessive play in the distributor shaft?

Since I don't know the answer to the ballast resistor question I'll assume I do not. Should I simply get "Bosch blue" points? I've always just used the ones available at Autoricambi

[So Cal Mark]

are you using a distributor cam lube?

[bradartigue]

(1) Do you have a ballast resistor? You need one if not. Some have an internal ballast (Bosch Blue), some do not (Marelli, FIAT OEM)
(2) Is there excessive play in the distributor shaft?

Since I don't know the answer to the ballast resistor question I'll assume I do not. Should I simply get "Bosch blue" points? I've always just used the ones available at Autoricambi

Well, you need to know. Find the part number of your distributor, test the output with a voltmeter.

[wubie317]

(1) Do you have a ballast resistor? You need one if not. Some have an internal ballast (Bosch Blue), some do not (Marelli, FIAT OEM)
(2) Is there excessive play in the distributor shaft?

Since I don't know the answer to the ballast resistor question I'll assume I do not. Should I simply get "Bosch blue" points? I've always just used the ones available at Autoricambi

Well, you need to know. Find the part number of your distributor, test the output with a voltmeter.

OK, I ordered a ballast resistor from Bayless. Assuming I don't have one to replace (I've never noticed a thing that looks like what I got), where does it go? I do have a Marelli coil, and have changed to single point setup. Does anyone have a picture and/or installation instructions?

[bradartigue]

Since I don't know the answer to the ballast resistor question I'll assume I do not. Should I simply get "Bosch blue" points? I've always just used the ones available at Autoricambi

Well, you need to know. Find the part number of your distributor, test the output with a voltmeter.

OK, I ordered a ballast resistor from Bayless. Assuming I don't have one to replace (I've never noticed a thing that looks like what I got), where does it go? I do have a Marelli coil, and have changed to single point setup. Does anyone have a picture and/or installation instructions?

Take the + lead on your coil and put it on the resistor, then the lead from the resistor and put it on the + terminal of the coil.

[wubie317]

Well, you need to know. Find the part number of your distributor, test the output with a voltmeter.

OK, I ordered a ballast resistor from Bayless. Assuming I don't have one to replace (I've never noticed a thing that looks like what I got), where does it go? I do have a Marelli coil, and have changed to single point setup. Does anyone have a picture and/or installation instructions?

Take the + lead on your coil and put it on the resistor, then the lead from the resistor and put it on the + terminal of the coil.

Abundance of caution...so it's in a loop to itself?

[bradartigue]

OK, I ordered a ballast resistor from Bayless. Assuming I don't have one to replace (I've never noticed a thing that looks like what I got), where does it go? I do have a Marelli coil, and have changed to single point setup. Does anyone have a picture and/or installation instructions?

Take the + lead on your coil and put it on the resistor, then the lead from the resistor and put it on the + terminal of the coil.

Abundance of caution...so it's in a loop to itself?

I'll steal the image from the folks you bought it from:



In simple terms take the lead running to the positive lead on the coil and put it on the resistor's open terminal. Then take the lead from the resistor and put it on the coil.

12V >> ------ Ig Switch ---------- Resistor ------------ Coil

It will drop the load to the coil when starting and running, which makes the points last longer. I don't know if this will solve your specific problem, but if you have the Marelli coil and no resistor then you will have problems in general.

[wubie317]

Take the + lead on your coil and put it on the resistor, then the lead from the resistor and put it on the + terminal of the coil.

Abundance of caution...so it's in a loop to itself?

I'll steal the image from the folks you bought it from:



In simple terms take the lead running to the positive lead on the coil and put it on the resistor's open terminal. Then take the lead from the resistor and put it on the coil.

12V >> ------ Ig Switch ---------- Resistor ------------ Coil

It will drop the load to the coil when starting and running, which makes the points last longer. I don't know if this will solve your specific problem, but if you have the Marelli coil and no resistor then you will have problems in general.

I get it now...Thanks!