Does anyone make good points anymore?

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have two tractors that use Delco ignition points. I am not sure what cars use the same points but they are really common in the tractor world.

Parts store and aftermarket points have been flakey for a long time. John Deere points used to be really good but they have been getting really loose. The hinge is really loose, out of the box my last set flopped around enough the contact pads only lined up half.

A couple hours of run time (less than 10) and I was scraping the points because they were only wearing on half the contacts.

Is there anyone out there that still makes good points? I have the eliminator for my main tractor that should take care of it but I can't swing the $100+ at the moment for the second one and it needs new wiring before I put that module in it anyway (they are picky about connections)

 

[martin]

I don't know where you can get good points from nowadays but if they are burning prematurely it's usually due to a poor condenser, however, here's a thought. You could use a gm hei four pin ignition module, it will take the load off the points and give you hei ignition into the bargain. If you need more information you can search online for dirt cheap ignition or send me a pm and I'll look for it on my computer, I must have it somewhere.
costs about twenty bucks.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I can't really blame them from burning up, they flop around enough that they are using only half or a little less of the contact area.

Does the GM HEI work with a 2 cylinder?

 

[RonD]

Yes, poorly functioning condenser will cause arcing on the points wearing them out pretty fast.

I have had a few vehicles where I had to grind new points to get a flat contact surface.

And check the strap/wire in the distributor that connects the advance plate(points) with the distributor connection, this wire is flexed all the time and can get broken wires which causes higher resistance in the circuit.


A coil works to generate a high voltage spark by cutting it's power, the points cut the power to the coil by separating.
So the points are just an on/off switch, the lobes on the distributor are to time the spark with the piston and valves.

If you wanted to spend the time, you could convert any distributor to pointless without changing the whole ignition system.
You need to replace the points with a sensor that can detect the lobes.
This "trigger" now cuts coil power electronically instead of mechanically.
Centrifugal or vacuum advance doesn't change, all you are really doing is replacing the points with a different kind of switch.

pertronix.com makes a few conversion devices that might be useful, they do have 2 cylinder delco distributor conversions.
http://pertronix.shptron.com/c/electronic-ignition_ignitor

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, I sell the Petronix kits all the time at work. I just have too much going on right now to drop the $100+ for one and I want to replace the old wiring before I put one in it too. In the grand scheme of things that is what I want to do... just not quite yet.

I don't think there is really anything wrong with the dizzy aside from the made in a third world country points that flop all over the place. The set before these was several years old, condenser was changed at the same time.

I will check that wire on the advance though, after 50+ years he could be getting tired.

 

[martin]

I don't see any reason why the gm hei module would not work on a twin, I've used them on 4's 6's and 8's without any problems. just make sure you mount it on a decent heat sink.

 

[shane96ranger]

I don't see any reason why the gm hei module would not work on a twin, I've used them on 4's 6's and 8's without any problems. just make sure you mount it on a decent heat sink.

I've seen them on a 4 cylinder too. They just skipped posts to make it work.

 

[Will]

The Direct Connection or Mopar Performance orange box will work on anything with a 12V source. You can usually find one for $20 new. An old, worn set of points is good enough to trigger it. Plenty of wiring diagrams can be found on-line.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Is that a centrifugal advance distributor?
http://www.hot-spark.com/1-3DEL4U1.htm
I wonder if you can adapt a hot spark or pertronix igniter to those 2 cly engines. Short of removing two of the magnets in the center piece the coil will fire four times per revolution but only use two of them. You would need the proper coil I will look on the pertronix site.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electronic-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4856221c0c&vxp=mtr
The only two cyl conversion for both hot spark and igniter is for the fiat.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electronic-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4856221c0c&vxp=mtr
The only two cyl conversion for both hot spark and igniter is for the fiat.

I can have a Petronix for it tomorrow if I wanted.

http://pertronix.carshopinc.com/product_info.php/products_id/98442/1121

The dizzy is from a John Deere 50, it is on my 1946 JD B which originally had a magneto. It was a really common upgrade back in the day.

As far as getting too far off the beaten path with brain boxes and such... the distributor sticks out the side of the tractor and exposed to everything. There is no good place to hide anything. The tiny battery box is right above it but a modern 12v battery pretty much fills it up.

Mainly I was just wanting to know if anyone still made good points or if I need to keep throwing crappy Chinese ones at it until I get time to rewire it and put in a Petronix kit that will still look factory.

 

[RonD]

Unless you can find an old service station or repair shop that has some old Delco-Remy points, you are pretty much stuck with the off shore parts.

There are old Deco points, new in the box, for sale on Ebay

Also places that sell original restoration ignition systems might have some older, US made points.

Google: delco-remy points