Replacing Points 85 SN 2001

I am getting to replace the points, rotor and cap with the tune up kit purchased from Skidim. (Tune up kit = points condenser, cap and rotor item No 1301) I searched the site for information about how to install, but could not find anything. I am sure this has been covered before so if anyone could point me in the right direction I would appreciate.

Thanks - My only concern is replacing the points. It has been over 30 years since I have messed around with points (and then it was on an old tractor) and I seem recall about setting the gap at the right position. I will keep digging around.

You'll also want to remember that your ignition timing should be checked after you replace and adjust the points since changes in dwell can alter the timing.

You can do this - but we might fill out many thread pages with BS chatter walking you thru it. (It's better than watching commercials)

Start off by getting the right tools - feeler gages, a dwell meter, a timing light, screwdrivers, box end wrench.   Ski Dim or My Correct parts can sell you the parts.

Give it a shot & come back if you get stuck. It's not like you need the boat to get to work in the morning.

I finally got the time to replace the points on the boat today. I thought everything went well until I tried to start it. It would act like it was trying to start by sputtering a little, but it would not kick over. After checking that the plug wires were in the right place, checking for spark (checked with a timing light) the thing that I leaning toward being the problem is that the when I set the gap at at the high point(.018), I rotate the engine with a wrench and it looks like the points are not closed when on the flat spot of the shaft. I purchased the tune-up kit from ski-dim and am wondering if I installed the points correctly. There was a metal spring which was included with the kit, but the points I took off did not have this (and I do not see how it would fit on the points) so I did not install it. I am thinking it was for another system for the universal kit.

The problem appears to be that there needs more pressure to close points and the spring I did not use needs to be installed.....any ideas?

A key point is to set the .018 gap with the rubbing block centered on a high point of the cam lobe. Also, put some cam lube on the cam. Another mistake may be to not connect the condenser.

I used them once, there was no spare part.

Thank you for confirming this. I am still unclear as to how the spring fits in under the copper piece. I am thinking the spring has to be placed in between the copper conductor and the pivot point. Such that the copper conductor will we on the outside (closer the exterior of the distributor cap) and the spring will be inside (or closest to the swing are of the points) is this correct?

Thanks again – I was getting ready to order the electronic conversion kit! I will take a pic of the set up once I get it running.

td_in_nc wrote: Thank you for confirming this. I am still unclear as to how the spring fits in under the copper piece. I am thinking the spring has to be placed in between the copper conductor and the pivot point. Such that the copper conductor will we on the outside (closer the exterior of the distributor cap) and the spring will be inside (or closest to the swing are of the points) is this correct?

I didn't say "under" the copper conductor but rather next to it. On the point set that I pictured, the spring hooks on the pivoting arm next to the actual pivot and wraps around the outside of the copper. This would be towards the outside of the distributor.

Well the saga continues. Let me just start by saying that when I put the boat into storage in the fall it was running - it was just running a little rough so I wanted to tune it up. I installed the tune up kit with included points and condenser, (I should have tried to start it before removing the old points), autolite 24 spark plugs, and plug wires from SkiDim. I finally inserted the spring into the points and the boat would not start, got one loud backfire, not even a sputter. I checked the wiring order of the plugs several times and I smell gas (although the plugs look dry). I pulled a plug and turned the boat over and the plug was sparking. I even went as far as putting all of the old stuff back on except the plug wires. Still nothing. When the engine is turned to top dead center the rotor lines up with cylinders 3 and 5 which I think is odd (I was thinking it would line up with 1 and 6, but it was running last fall and I have done anything with the timing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.          

1 and 6 are only one post off 3 and 5... So it sounds like you shifted everything one post. I assume you're going around the cap counter clockwise? Just loosen the dist bolt and turn the dizzy a little bit counter clockwise if you want (rather than moving all the plugs around). The backfire may indicate that you're too retarded. You'll need to set the timing after the points change anyways.

td_in_nc wrote: I am going by the diagram below (the one on the right) and the firing order on the block - which matches the diagram. The only thing that bothers me is how did it get off by one.

Those diagrams are great but remember that the post location of #1 is going to vary depending on how the distributor is installed in the engine. It can vary by 360 degrees. You need to determine which post is #1 and follow it around from there.

td_in_nc wrote: the position of the distributor was off by one. Learned my lesson about the diagram being off.

Tom,
The diagram is only a reference. It's not "off", you were! Just like Tim mentioned, you can stick a distributor into it's gearing anywhere within 360 degrees and plug in wires every 45 degrees. The key is finding the TDC compression stroke of #1, making sure the rotor is pointing to that wire in the cap and starting there.

It's great to hear it's running. The other thing is, I'm sure it was a good learning experience for you. Keep in mine you can learn something every day of your life and still die stupid!

Thanks for the walk down memory lane.