Bad points out of the box!

I had my 88 BFN running finally, but it started getting hard to start, and then wouldn't start at all. I suspected everything except the new points I had installed. After chasing my tail for 2 days, I started over, and the points were burned after only a few test runs on the hose. Since I hadn't changed anything but the points cause that's all they had at the auto parts store, I thought the condenser must be bad. Cap looked a little worse than I thought after getting it out in the sunlight too.
So I got a cap, rotor, condenser, points kit at a local boat yard. After installing, it still had no spark! Now I'm really confused. Tried taking out the points and cleaning them with lacquer thinner, no spark.
It turns out the new points had 10.8 ohms resistance across them when closed. Last thing I checked! Must be some kind of non conductive coating. I used sandpaper to get down to clean metal,.7 ohms, now they work fine! Started right up.
I ordered an electronic ignition kit, I think I'm done with points. But I will carry them , a screwdriver, and a little piece of sandpaper in my glovebox just in case. Oh, and a 3/32 allen hex wrench too.

The quality of points sets has gone down now the demand is very small. When I had boat with points I used to replace the points with a new set every year clean the old set up and keep for a spare.

Any contamination between the points can cause them to burn. High voltage and a bad condenser can also cause it. I won a PCM electronic conversion kit from White Lake . It lasted 5 minutes I didn't even have time to check the timing. I reinstalled the points. The best things about points are cheap to buy and you can always make them work with minimal tools. If they quit on the water you can always make it home.

I'm not sure how many people even know what dwell is these days, let alone how to adjust it.

Petronix kits seem to work pretty well.

For some reason I thought the new points had a wonderful protective coating I shouldn't remove! I could have filed my old points and cap and been money and time ahead.
Yeah, I asked about ignition wrenches at the auto parts store since mine are hiding somewhere, and nobody knew what they were except the old guy who said they hadn't carried them in years.
Perhaps I'll leave them on as long as they are working and carry the electronic conversion kit in the glove box.

MustangMadness wrote: Be careful how you say old around here...

Roger that!
My bank just told me since I turned 70 1/2, 2 days ago, I have to start withdrawing an amount determined by an actuary,from my IRA account this year. Presumedly so I don't die before I pay taxes on the money. I think the government is trying to say I'm old! Oh yeah! I already bought a BFN with this years withdrawal, bet they don't hear that much.