Ignition, and filing points (1931 PA)

[BryanD]

I'm pretty sure I found the problem.  The distributor had no ground wire !?  I've installed a ground wire and run that down to a bolt on the block.  The engine seems to run a bit smoother  ;D  I also dressed the points with an actual points file.  Time will tell if the points will now "stay good" but I have a good feeling that they will.

...Thanks for the help, it was this comment:

          Also check you main ground strap as resistance can also cause early points failure

...that made me realize that the distributor was not grounded.

[36 Ply]

plym_46 makes a good point about condensers being bad out of the box. I've had bad luck with thermostats right out of the box; now I always test them before I install them.

Regards,
Pat O'Connor

[BryanD]

Thanks! :)  I'll pick up a points file and check those other things you mentioned.  I actually have used a points file years ago on my dad's 60's Fords and as you say it didn't need to be done very often.  Of course that was a more modern and 12 volt system...

I'll post back in a week or two with what I find...

[plym_46]

You should not need to file points on a regular basis, and you should not use emmery cloth or sand paper to resurface them.  The residue from the abrasive, causes arching almost immediatly.  You need to use a points file which should be from NAPA or any other parts store.  Usually the need to dress points on a regular basis indicates a weak condenser or reversed polarity through the coil.  With 6V pos the heg (-) terminal on the coil should be connected to the ign, and the pos (+) goes from the coil to the dizzy.  Also check you main ground strap as resistance can also cause early points failure.

New condensors can be faulty right out of the box.

[BryanD]

I've got my 31 PA back on the road again this Spring after it was out of service for a couple of years with what turned out to be a broken valve.  The valve stem on the #2 intake was broken off right down by the adjustment end.

The car is running reasonably well but the idle does "hiccup" just a bit and the engine will very occasionally backfire (not very often).  On several occasions now, I've had the car either fail to start, or die while running.  Each time, it turned out that the distributor points weren't connecting when "closed".  "Filing" them lightly using 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper brings them back to life, but the problem returns.  I replaced the points and the new ones are doing the same thing!

Is it normal to need to file the points fairly regularly?   As a maintenance item, this is not difficult, but I wonder if this is a symptom of some other problem?  Or perhaps I need some sort of "better quality points"? I also wonder if the "points issue" is somehow related to the "not so smooth" idle?

Edit to add: In cases anyone thinks the problem might be the condenser or coil, both are quite new. 

...thanks in advance for any information :)