What’s the points?

eman1200

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Bro do you even lift
Apparently these are fried. Can’t points be cleaned up or do they eventually sht the bed?


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Points on the magneto are a normal wear item. How long since that mag was last serviced?
Should be able to get about 500 hours from them. imo false economy not to change them after that.
 
Am I remembering wrong or is wear on points diagnostic for ignition system problems? It’s been about 30 years since I kept a 289 running.

Anyway, replacing points is better than filing from a performance/reliability point of view. I’ve filed my share of auto points but eventually realized it was better to replace. With new the contact surfaces are square and the wearblocks have full life. After filing the contact area may be out of square and the contact area can be pitted on one side. Have also seen cracked wearblocks that caused inconsistent performance.
 
Am I remembering wrong or is wear on points diagnostic for ignition system problems? It’s been about 30 years since I kept a 289 running.

Anyway, replacing points is better than filing from a performance/reliability point of view. I’ve filed my share of auto points but eventually realized it was better to replace. With new the contact surfaces are square and the wearblocks have full life. After filing the contact area may be out of square and the contact area can be pitted on one side. Have also seen cracked wearblocks that caused inconsistent performance.

If I had to make a guess I'd say it's the RH mag out of eman's Mooney...,er, Bo.

If the points are arcing/welding/pitted prematurely, usually means the condenser is bad. Both the points and condensor are usually recommended to replace at the typical 500 hour service interval. That's why I asked how many hours since the last mag service.
 
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If I had to make a guess I'd say it's the RH mag out of eman's Mooney.

If the points are arcing/welding/pitted prematurely, usually means the condenser is bad. Both the points and condensor are usually recommended to replace at the typical 500 hour service interval. That's why I asked how many hours since the last mag service.
Yes, of course eman is asking about his magneto. The points in the mag perform the same function as the points in a distributor. My comments about condition are directed toward understanding why they should be replaced instead of filed. Sure they can be dressed but is that what ya really want at 8,000 feet over hill country?
 
Yes, of course eman is asking about his magneto. The points in the mag perform the same function as the points in a distributor. My comments about condition are directed toward understanding why they should be replaced instead of filed. Sure they can be dressed but is that what ya really want at 8,000 feet over hill country?

I️ see your points.
 
Agree. Best bet is just get the mag properly serviced and should be trouble free for years.
 
@eman1200 I probably missed it explained else where but what happened to get this far? Did you have a mag failure in flight or notice a problem on run-up and take it in to the shop?
 
Night moves

“She was a black haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high”
 
Decades ago I filed points on mowers etc; very difficult to get them square enough. You end up with two 'domes' or convex areas as the contact surfaces. Then it seems the spark is concentrated in one place and they burn faster.
 
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