Planet Minis

CrawlerD

I thought you would be so proud! Actually had to stop at a place I never go as they are the only ones with a points file.

http://partimages.genpt.com/partimages/24717.jpg

mexicanyella

Tool lust. Awwwww, yeaaaahhhhh. My work here is done.

CrawlerD

Well I have so many points bikes now that I might as well stop using the wifes nail file. For a guy whose vision was to rid his world of points for cdi I guess I find this very funny. I guess all those good tips and tutorials I have read from Mexicanyella have gave me hope in my points ability. Time will tell.

mexicanyella

Yeah, the pressure's on for you, Mr. "I am so esoteric I have a (points-equipped) Indian Minimini mounted on my office wall" retro dirt bike man.

I want a Z50R seat, and is it true you have a gas tank collection? Can you quit goofing around with that points file for a minute and go check?

CrawlerD

Oh ouch! I hate it when you get the tunnel vision. Like a pitbull once he clamps on... okay, okay. I just called my bro in law and told him "I need an answer." and he said wife said "okay" but he'll come by and look at it tomorrow night. What is this about a tank? You never mentioned one. For what?

mexicanyella

Yeah, I just slipped that in there. I saw in some thread recently where you mentioned to someone else you had various tanks available. I think it said they were mostly K3-78 ones. It's not a top priority for now but I'll need a K3-78 tank and a hardtail tank sometime in the fairly near future.

Thanks D; and why don't you give your brother-in-law a big hug for me and tell him I appreciate him moving this deal forward. It means a lot. Careful with that points file, too; they're brittle and they rust quickl...ooooh, wait, Nevada. Yeah, forget the rust part.

Z

A points file is the best way to ruin a good set of points in my opinion, espcially the points files that aren't flexible. They really aren't needed.

However, for you points file buffs, here's a good article for the likes of you.

I used plain old paper.

Dan's Motorcycle

CrawlerD

Thanks Z good info. I think I need to order a new set of points. Ill post up a pic and let you guys tell me what you think.

bwise

emery paper folded in half works too.

mexicanyella

Emery paper, sandpaper, emery boards, the little file that folds out of a set of fingernail clippers...I've used all of them and was able to get whatever it was to spark again. I suppose the reluctance to use a points file could be that if you're not careful, you can file the contact faces so they don't meet squarely. I agree that the file takes off metal at a slower rate than sandpaper seems to...but it's easier to get at the points at a workable angle with a file when you're working on a Honda magneto, at least in my opinion. Sometimes something like an antique tractor distributor or magneto has a different accessibility thing going on.

Usually they don't need to be replaced, though...honest.

Thanks for the link to the article, Dan; I've read some of that guy's stuff before and I like his easygoing writing style. It's pretty conversational.

Z

Points rarely need to be replaced unless the bike has been completely neglected.

I'm working on an old outboard with the original Bendix points (over 60 years old) and the mag assembly works perfect with a little cleaning of the points.

People replace points because they are lazy..

mexicanyella

Cool, what's the outboard? I've got a tiny little Elgin from the late '40s (1.25 hp!) with a West Bend engine in it and I've never had the flywheel off. It has maybe the strongest spark I've seen on a little flywheel magneto too. I got it years ago at a yard sale for $10 with no prop, and cut down a plastic prop from a 4hp Johnson to fit...kept filing away until it could spin up to the right speed in the water. The prop now looks like what you might find in the bottom of a food processor, prompting one of my friends to suggest that the forward thrust comes more from the exhaust outlet than the prop. He calls it the "bubble drive."

Back to the honda points thing; what's worked for me is to file both contacts simultaneously (if your points file has serrations on both sides like mine does) by holding the points together gently as you file, with the tool between them. Even if it's only serrated on one side this should still help; you'll just have to flip the file over once you've got the bump knocked off the one side, and do the pitted side in round II.