While a dwell/tach is great for setting the idle speed, for the ignition systems still using breaker points you can use the dwell meter to set the dwell of the points as well. When performing my regular tune-ups I always start by checking the dwell and adjusting the points as necessary. If you need to adjust the points frequently then you may need to lube the block on the points and or check the cam on the rotor shaft. After the dwell then you can set the idle and timing. The whole process should only take a few minutes once you get it down, and all of the numbers are in the engine compartment on the tag above the coil (at least for the early vanagons). I find that setting the point gap with only a feeler guage often yields improper dwell settings which as I understand it are all that matter. Some of the experts can shed light on what I have written as it is based on my isolated experience. Jonathan Poole |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.