Info Sheet 1.

5-2

Setting the contact gap

The correct setting for the points is given in the car handbook or workshop manual.

Turn the crankshaft pulley in the direction of the engines normal rotation with a spanner or socket
wrench, until the contact heel is on the tip of one of the distributor cam lobes , so that the contact-
breaker points are fully open.

Alternatively, put the car in top gear and push it forwards a short distance until the point open.

Removing the sparkplugs eases the job of turning the engine by relieving the pressure in the cylinder.

Contact breaker with points fully open. The gap shown is exaggerated for clarity.

Place the correct size feeler-gauge blade between the points to measure the gap.

Place the feeler gauge blade between the points, and a screwdriver blade in the adjusting slots.

On most types you can adjust the gap by freeing the fixing screw and sliding the entire assembly, or
sometimes just one contact, around a pivot; some types have a special adjusting screw.
Push the sliding type with a thin screwdriver blade rotating in its adjusting slot, or just adjust the screw,
until you feel that the points offer a slight resistance to the feeler.

Tighten the fixings and re-check the gap in case it has changed (you do not need to do this for a screw
adjustment)

Smear a little high-melting-point grease on the cam lobe. If there is an oiling pa, give this a few drops of
light oil. Also put a drop of light oil on the moving contact pivot.

If you have a dwell meter check the dwell angle. Contact breaker with points fully open. The gap shown
is exaggerated for clarity.

Place the feeler gauge blade between the points, and a screwdriver blade in the adjusting slots.

Tighten the fixing screw, and then check that point gap remains the same.

Tighten the fixing screw, and then check that points gap remains the same.