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Ford 9N, 2N & 8N Discussion Forum
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Setting points -- again??

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wbonner

05-17-2008 14:35:18




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I"m sure this has been beaten to death somewhere, but I"m a newbie here and the search engine doesn"t seem to help! I have an 8n, front distributor, and am getting no spark. I presume the points are the most likely problem and want to replace them.
Should I remove the entire distributor to do this, or can it somehow be done with the distributor in place?
Is there a reference manual, or web site, or whatever that will help me? The Ford shop manual that I bought seems to assume that I"d know something so basic -- but obviously I don"t. Appreciate any advice!

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wbonner

05-18-2008 12:16:09




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 Re: Setting points -- again?? in reply to wbonner, 05-17-2008 14:35:18  
Wow! -- that"s enormously helpful, just the sort of specifics that I needed!

One last question, and I"ll be off to the barn with my toolbox: other than ensuring that the offset tang is properly oriented, is there any really, really stupid mistake that I should anticipate? I"m assuming that the timing won"t be affected by removing the distributor, so long as I don"t move the crankshaft while it"s off?

No other snakes hiding in the woodpile?

Thanks again for the help --

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Bruce (VA)

05-18-2008 12:48:59




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 Re: Setting points -- again?? in reply to wbonner, 05-18-2008 12:16:09  
You can move the crankshaft all you want; it will not effect the timing. Thee distributor has an offset tang. Just look at the end of the crankshaft before you put it back on. If the slot on the crankshaft is 12 & 6 o'clock, turn the tang on the distributor accordingly. Place the distributor on the front of the engine & slowly rotate it back & forth while applying slight pressure; you will feel it fall in the slot. Then, put the bolts in.

Breaking the copper strip is a common newbie error. So is not being able to figure out how the 2-piece points fit together. Hence, my suggestion about the sketch.

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Bruce (VA)

05-17-2008 18:21:16




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 Re: Setting points -- again?? in reply to wbonner, 05-17-2008 14:35:18  
The front distributor was designed to come off of the tractor to replace/adjust the points. Remove the wire on the coil, remove the coil bail, remove the distributor cap & take the two bolts off. The base of the distributor has an offset tang & can only go back one way unless you really force it on. Look at how the points & condenser set in the distributor before you start pulling it down! If this is your first time doing it, draw a sketch! Replace the points & condenser. Be careful not to ground the tip of the condenser wire to the body of the distributor when you replace the points. Do not break the little copper strip that goes to the points. (If you do, make another out of the old set of points) Also, make sure the condenser wire does not go through the same opening in the distributor that the coil pig tail does. The condenser wire goes the opening on the top right. Look at the old points; are they burned, pitted or mis-aligned? Check the point gap, .015 on all four lobes. Make sure you have the star washers under the screws on the points.

Next, with the distributor still off the tractor, install the coil. Look at the pigtail on the coil; is it touching the brass screw inside of the distributor? Don’t trust your eyes; test for continuity from the top of the coil to the points. If you do not have continuity, stretch the pigtail a bit until you do. (some people would rather put a small washer under the brass screw) Look at the little tab opposite of the pigtail; bend it a bit also to insure that it will contact the distributor cap. At this point, I just put the distributor, coil & cap all back on the tractor as a unit (it helps to loosen the fan belt). The reason I do this is because it is real easy to get the cap or coil mis-aligned trying to put it back together one piece at a time & the result is something gets broken or you get a ‘no spark’ problem.

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old

05-17-2008 15:09:49




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 Re: Setting points -- again?? in reply to wbonner, 05-17-2008 14:35:18  
To add to what Dunk said. When you put the distributor back on be careful and make sure you have the off center tang right before you try to bolt it back one or you can/will brake the distributor. It will only fit one way that is correct but seem to fit the wrong way and cause you to brake things if done wrong.



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Dunk

05-17-2008 14:41:33




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 Re: Setting points -- again?? in reply to wbonner, 05-17-2008 14:35:18  
Take off your distributor cap, push it back out of the way.

If you want you can unsnap the coil and do the same with it, or just take the wire off.

Take out the 2 bolts that mount it on the tractor.

Any adjustments/replacements can be made on the bench.



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