Changed the points & coil, now less power?

[bbushnell]

Hi,

I changed the coil, points, condenser, gapped the points, now I seem to have less power than before especially when mowing up hills. Thought maybe the timing needed to be adjusted, loosened the bolt and retainer at the distributor base, but could not get the distributor to turn either direction.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

[dgrapes59]

Suspect if you have less power than when you started something is not set or hooked back up right, might be worth a double check. Checking the valve gaps would be something easily done with the “tune-up” and might help.

The distributor has two bolts, likely the one you loosened and one behind you didn't see (most people leave out).

Good luck,

[Eugene]

The distributor has two bolts, likely the one you loosened and one behind you didn't see.

First guess, ignition timing off just a bit.

[oronc]

Set your points on .020 for dist. .013 on mag. Can't figure how the timing got off if you can't get the dist. to turn.

[Eugene]

Set your points on .020 for dist. .013 on mag. Can't figure how the timing got off if you can't get the dist. to turn.

.001" variance in the point gap changes the spark by around 3 degrees of crankshaft rotation.

Found the above on the internet. Accuracy of the above statement is probably pretty close. The point is that once the ignition points' gap has been set, the distributor must be retimed to the engine.

[bbushnell]

That makes sense, the tractor ran great with lots of power prior to the replacement of the coil and points/condenser, gapped to .020, but my guess is it was timed to a set of points that were gapped differently from .020 so just changing the points changed the timing.

[ecnorton]

I just had a similar problem. If you have a dwell meter, check the dwell to verify points settings. I could not find actual dwell specification on line, but since a chevy small block v-8 is 28 to 32 degrees I adjusted the cub from 70 degrees down to 60 and my issues went away.

[bbushnell]

As a follow-up/wrap up to this post, I managed to find that second bolt on the engine side of the distributor, learned that the only way to get this 1/2 bolt loose is to use a closed end wrench from the top side. Once that was done the rest was easy, timed to the second mark and it really helped improve the power under load. I went to my Dads and did the same for his Lo-boy and it too responded with much better power under load. Thanks to all for the help. I did gap the points to .020.

[Peter Person]

Get yourself or make one of these;
http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/industrial-tools/Proto/Wrenches/Box-End-Wrenches/228b0f38-cf34-4d1e-aca5-a6c0a5ea20e9_Proto%c2%ae-Satin-Obstruction-Box-Wrenches---12-Point/J1725_Proto%c2%ae-Satin-Obstruction-Box-Wrench-7%7c16%22-x-1%7c2%22---12-Point/

[bbushnell]

Wow, thanks, now there is a tip I did not expect.

Bob