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Triumph TR6 - how to set the points

Can someone help me out, I replaced the points and condenser on my 70, set the gap at .015,(book says .014 to.016) but now she won't start.
anybody?
Steve

spj steve

This happened top me earlier this year....double check your wire connections on the points and that the washers/insulators are properly placed on the "post" that the wire is on.
JT White

Steve

As JT indicates most likely cause is points are grounded or not connected to the coil primary circuit.

To check- with ignition off and with points open, measure resistance from coil primary negative terminal to distributor base. Should be infinite resistance. Close points & measure. Should be 0 resistance. If you have zero when points are open, points are not isolated (insulated) from ground properly. If you have infinite when points are closed,coil is not connected to distributor properly.

Other things to consider that can be forgotten (I've done it)- is rotor back on? Is coil wire both positive and negative connected where they should be.

Are you getting 12 volts at the coil positive terminal side when the ignition is on. Is coil secondary wire from coil to distributor secure.
Michael Petryschuk

WOW a set of points...how cute.

Steve you gotta convert to the Pertronix. You will never look back.


Rick
Rick Crawford

Till that system bails out...have seen people switch out to pertronics...CD systems etc....and I've seen more then my share of problems with those too. I run points, always have, always will. New and improved isn't always better. When the pertronix craps out it leaves you sitting...when the points fail I simply put on the cheap spare set in the boot and I'm up and on my way. (never had to do that yet in 30+ years of running points in various cars though) Just my $.02
JT White

Rick,
Jeff rebuild and recurved my distributor. I suggested Pertronix. He disagreed and recommended staying with points so that's what I'm doing. Given that, what coil??? Stock OEM, or something hotter?
db
Doug Baker

JT
My Pertronix has been in the car since restoration (2001) and have had no problems at all. All I have had to do is clean the terminals on the cap and clean and lube the rotor which I consider regular maintenance. If it ever craps out, yes I am stuck on the side of the road. BUT, if the PERTRONIX fails, I simply put on the cheap spare set (points & condensor) in the boot and I'm up and on my way. JT can not say I have hear of one problem with the PERTRONIX. Would not want others considering them to get the impression that they are crap...just my $.0195

Rick
Rick Crawford

Doug
Stick with stock coil,plugs, and wires. I do not think there is any advantage (gain).

If someone knows better pls chime in.

Rick
Rick Crawford

Rick, I've heard of several pertronix problems in the past to pickup failures to coil failures...while I'm not saying they are a "bad" system...I have heard of failures (these are not just used on brit cars) Type in "pertronix failures" in google and you'll see what I mean. I for one don't have a problem with the stock point set-up and there for can't justify the $ spent on the pertronix system....plus if it breaks it is WAY more $$ to replace then simple points...pound for pound and $ to performance I just feel points are the way to go....just my $.02
JT White

Hi Everyone,
Just got back to work on the 6, I have power coming from the - coil but when I connect it to the points I lose power. Anyone?
Steve
spj steve

spj, the continuity for the low tension lead from the coil is through the spring section of the points. A common mistake is to place the plastic washers on the post for the points spring between the condensor and the low tension lead wire and that spring. These two wires should be placed directly against the spring and then the plastic washers stacked on top of that and the nut tightened.

You would be shocked at the number of people that came in on a Friday afternoon buying all the stuff for a tune up and then we come Monday morning their MG or Triumph would show up at the dealership at the end of a hook. First thing to do was pull the distributor cap and look to see if the plastic washers were between the points spring and the low tension leads.
SteveP1

Steve,
I did what you said and still no power, but when I the igniton is on and my testers atteched to the - lead to the battery and I turn off my battery disconnect switch and then touch my tester to the post of the points it shows power??
spj steve

Steve, rather than attaching the lead to the negative terminal of the battery, ground it off to the distributor body. You should have a white wire coming off the fuse box to the positive terminal on the coil. This in turn supplies current to the coil windings and to the negative side of the coil. From the negative side of the coil you should have a white wire with balck tracer leading to the plastic fitting that then feeds into the distributor and is one of the wires that are attached to the points spring (the other is the wire from the condensor.

The distributor then goes to ground by means of a wire on the upper part of the breaker plate to one of the mounting screws for the lower portion of the breaker plate. Sometimes that wire breaks and you need to replace that wire. It was never serviced seperately, it only came with a breaker plate and breaker plates are difficult to come by so you have to effect a repair if it breaks. This takes the ground to the distributor body and into the engine block which in turn should have be grounded by cable to the body.

If chasing it this way fails, I would suspect something related to the battery disconnect switch and how it is run into the electrical system.
SteveP1

Steve,
I reread what you said and did it right this time, and what do you know, it start right up. Thanks for you help.
Steve
spj steve

I normally just lurk since I have not had to set my gap (nor other things) in eons. The pertronix is by far the easiest and one of the best modifications I have done to my 6. Hoprfully I do not jinx my car (knock on dash).
Ignatius Rigor

This thread was discussed between 30/09/2010 and 14/10/2010

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