Dwell Angle Options

[Dave S]

I was setting my timing last night and when I went to check my dwell, it was up to 80 degrees I pulled the cap and rotor and unscrewed the adjustment nut and was able to get the dwell down to 50 degrees but wouldn't go any lower. I know that this is just at the top of the limit but I would like to have it around mid - high 40's. I messed around with it for about a hour and a half but couldn't get it past 50 degrees. The strange thing is that it was a ways away at 80 and when I brought it in closer, it dropped to 50. Shouldn't it be the father away the less of the angle and vice versa or am I mistaken? And why wouldn't the dwell drop below 50?

[Bartlett 914]

Are you hooking up the meter correctly? One connection to ground and the other to the points.

I was setting my timing last night and when I went to check my dwell, it was up to 80 degrees I pulled the cap and rotor and unscrewed the adjustment nut and was able to get the dwell down to 50 degrees but wouldn't go any lower. I know that this is just at the top of the limit but I would like to have it around mid - high 40's. I messed around with it for about a hour and a half but couldn't get it past 50 degrees. The strange thing is that it was a ways away at 80 and when I brought it in closer, it dropped to 50. Shouldn't it be the father away the less of the angle and vice versa or am I mistaken? And why wouldn't the dwell drop below 50?

[Dave S]

Are you hooking up the meter correctly? One connection to ground and the other to the points.

I was setting my timing last night and when I went to check my dwell, it was up to 80 degrees I pulled the cap and rotor and unscrewed the adjustment nut and was able to get the dwell down to 50 degrees but wouldn't go any lower. I know that this is just at the top of the limit but I would like to have it around mid - high 40's. I messed around with it for about a hour and a half but couldn't get it past 50 degrees. The strange thing is that it was a ways away at 80 and when I brought it in closer, it dropped to 50. Shouldn't it be the father away the less of the angle and vice versa or am I mistaken? And why wouldn't the dwell drop below 50?

I had the black lead com to ground and the red lead to the negative side of the coil...

[Bartlett 914]

Are you hooking up the meter correctly? One connection to ground and the other to the points.

I was setting my timing last night and when I went to check my dwell, it was up to 80 degrees I pulled the cap and rotor and unscrewed the adjustment nut and was able to get the dwell down to 50 degrees but wouldn't go any lower. I know that this is just at the top of the limit but I would like to have it around mid - high 40's. I messed around with it for about a hour and a half but couldn't get it past 50 degrees. The strange thing is that it was a ways away at 80 and when I brought it in closer, it dropped to 50. Shouldn't it be the father away the less of the angle and vice versa or am I mistaken? And why wouldn't the dwell drop below 50?

I had the black lead com to ground and the red lead to the negative side of the coil...

Assuming negative side means the wire to the points.

Pitted points, bad condenser or you are not reading the meter correctly is my next guess

[Dave S]

Are you hooking up the meter correctly? One connection to ground and the other to the points.

I was setting my timing last night and when I went to check my dwell, it was up to 80 degrees I pulled the cap and rotor and unscrewed the adjustment nut and was able to get the dwell down to 50 degrees but wouldn't go any lower. I know that this is just at the top of the limit but I would like to have it around mid - high 40's. I messed around with it for about a hour and a half but couldn't get it past 50 degrees. The strange thing is that it was a ways away at 80 and when I brought it in closer, it dropped to 50. Shouldn't it be the father away the less of the angle and vice versa or am I mistaken? And why wouldn't the dwell drop below 50?

I had the black lead com to ground and the red lead to the negative side of the coil...

Assuming negative side means the wire to the points.

Pitted points, bad condenser or you are not reading the meter correctly is my next guess

It's not normal points that I am adjusting, there is a different type of distributor on the car. I set it at the arrow to .016 and got the dwell reading of 50..

[Bartlett 914]

Looks like the pertronics unit. I have never used one. I think you are good. Nothing to set. I hope someone with experience using these will correct me if I am wrong.

[McMark]

Is your meter set to 4 cyl?

That's a Pertronix Ignitor and it's not adjustable. There is a specific 'air gap' between the center ring and the pickup unit that should be established. Pertronix may have a measurement on their website.

[BMartin914]

Pertronix supplies a plastic feeler gauge with the ignitor to set the gap.

[Dave S]

I found this out AFTER I adjusted it and used a metal gauge to do it. The blade didn't seem to be affected by the magnet so hopefully I didn't screw it up. What would be the symptoms if I messed up that magnet?