Dwell setting

["John Hofstetter" <hofs@domain.elided>]

Mark,
Here's how I feel about feeler gauges vs. dwell meters. In my opinion,
if the points are new, and if you are competent at using a feeler
gauge, (it's harder to judge than most people think) I believe that
setting them at .019 is maybe even better than setting the dwell,
because the extra .003 allows for the early rapid wearing of the
rubbing block. If, however, the points are not new, and maybe a little
pitted, then the feeler gauge is incapable of giving you a good
setting.  This is when you really need a dwell meter to make sure that
the points are doing what they need to do in terms of how long they
are staying closed. 
When I was poorer, I used to remove burned points, file and hone them
flat, put them back in and set the dwell with my old Craftsman
analyzer. Now if I had points, I'd buy new ones and set them with the
feeler gauge. Why? Because using the feeler gauge, you only have to
move the points once. You feel the resistance on the blade, tighten
the screw and you are done. 
FWIW
John H.
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From: owner-ihc-digest@domain.elided (ihc-digest)
To: ihc-digest@domain.elided
Subject: ihc-digest V6 #820
Date: Mon, May 10, 1999, 10:27 AM


rom: Mark A Pepe <mpepe@domain.elided>
Subject: Re: Dwell/point gap

Hey all,

 I've been catching up on some of the digests and just read the
comments on Dwell/ point gap from Fri. I've never been able to set the
point gap well (using feeler guages etc.) on either of the scouts I
have
owned so..... I have been
doing it by eye and just starting the truck and checking the dwell as
I go
until I get it where  it should be. Sometimes I can do it it one or
two
tries but other times close has to do. (I always try to get it right
at 29
degrees as the motor seems to have the most spunk at the lowest
possible
degree setting).  Is this O.K. ?  I just assumed that the proper dwell
setting corresponded with the correct point gap (I do have good points
BTW)