Re: points problem
Hi foresteronw, visually check the points, if they're pitted or burned after 10 hours you likely need a new capacitor. The purpose of the capacitor is to prevent pitting and burning of the points by acting like an electrical shock absorber. The following was copied from a web site by searching on Kettering Ignition, Kettering invented the points and condensor system. "The voltage spike in the (coil) primary will strike an energy wasting arc across the just-opened points unless something is done about it. This is one function of the capacitor connected across the points, an electrical device which has the ability to accept an inflow of current until it is fully charged. Coil current continues to flow briefly into the uncharged capacitor while the points move apart to the point where an arc can't be struck by the few hundred volts of the primary spike. Once the capacitor is fully charged, the current flow stops and the magnetic field can collapse. The voltage spike in the primary rapidly rises to its peak value, inducing the multi-thousands of volt pulse in the secondary. Without the capacitor, the points will be rapidly eroded and the collapsing magnetic field will expend a good part of its energy as a few dozen volts maintaining the unwanted arc across the points." Hope this helps.
