Another Challenge for the What's-It Guys

[mikeswrenches]

The last What's-It I posted was apparently too easy.  This one may be a little harder.  It is not marked with a maker or any other identifying marks.  I bought it new 35-40 years ago, obviously it never got used much.

Mike

[Lostmind]

Looks like a tool to adjust voltage regulator contacts and air gaps.

[mikeswrenches]

You're kind of close.

Mike

[john k]

I'm thinking its for adjusting ignition points.  Bending the arm and spring, for more tension, and centering the contact points. 

[oldtools]

What is the size?

[mikeswrenches]

John,

You got it!!!  100% correct.

I need to find a harder one.

Mike

[Bill Houghton]

I'm thinking its for adjusting ignition points.

And the time is not far off - may even be here - when the majority of the readers of any given forum (not counting the Auld Cahrs fora) will say "what are ignition points?"

Bill, pretty experienced with points* but not so sad that they've been superseded

*Trying to remember to whom I was talking the other day, approximately sorta close to my age, who was familiar with points, but not with the cigarette paper timing method

[Lostmind]

Bill , I don't know about cigarette paper timing , but many times I used a match book cover
as a feeler gauge to set the gap on a car to get it running.
Biggest problem with points was the rubbing block wearing down because the cam didn't get lubed.

[oldtools]

Guess it depends on the gap required, paper or match book.
Yup, cam needs Lube or will wear the foot & change gap.
Also the Condenser & Contacts needs to be checked.
seen contact points with Pits & Craters...
Still have my Dwell Meter, with Volt, Amp, RPM.

[mikeswrenches]

You guys probably still have timing lights too!!!

Mike

[oldtools]

You guys probably still have timing lights too!!!

Mike

Don't you?  I still use them on older cars. days of timing by ear are gone...

[rusty]

I have several. Anyone remember the joys of getting the wires from the timing light caught in the fan blades?

[oldtools]

Been there, Done That!
also getting shocked from the High voltage side... WOW!! what a kicker...

[mikeswrenches]

Actually I still do have one, although I haven't used it since about 1980...and a dwell meter,tach, etc.  Just can't seem to get rid of them, even though I don't use any of it anymore.

Mike

[Bill Houghton]

Bill , I don't know about cigarette paper timing , but many times I used a match book cover
as a feeler gauge to set the gap on a car to get it running.
Biggest problem with points was the rubbing block wearing down because the cam didn't get lubed.

Not for gap.  Sparks fire on a points system when the points open (causing the magnetic field in the coil to collapse, triggering a shot from the secondary, high-voltage side of the coil to the plug).  So, you would set the crankshaft to the timing mark, then put a piece of cigarette paper between the points and hold gentle pressure on it while rotating the distributor in the proper direction.  When the points just began to open, the paper would pull out.  The test was then to back up the crankshaft and bring it forward; if the paper pulled out when the crank hit the timing mark, you were on the timing.

Insufficient precision for the later cars, but just fine for older models.

Cigarette paper because it was a good balance of thin and strong; Zig-Zag papers were considered the best.  Credit card "flimsies" were a backup approach, but we all believed that they left some sort of oily deposit on the points.