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[Osprey]

Just read aaronjb’s post about clickety clickety in another thread and was reminded of my old uncle.  When I suggested his tappets were a bit noisy (some decades ago) he said he liked them that way “so he could hear they were still working”. 

He was the guy who told me that plugs should always be gapped to the lid of a packet of Benson’s (used to be Player’s folded over, apparently), and that the correct points gap was given by the thickness of the card down the front of the packet.   

Does anybody remember any more of these old techniques before they get lost to posterity? 

[Dishevelled Den]

Afraid not Osp, but that's a great story 8-) - and you're quite right, many of these old ways will undoubtedly be forgotten.

[aaronjb]

That's a great way of setting the gap although I'll take the hassle of a thousand wires over the top of the engine over setting points up, any day!

[TheBoy]

I remember a good mate of mine - a fair bit older than me - would adjust the carbs purely by ear (common enough skill back then).  But, he'd always have a fag on the go whilst doing this...  ...fags + petrol = full underpants....

[Welung666]

I have a 1954 Morris Minor and still set the plugs and points with a fag packet. I also set the tappets using a fag packet. Both the carb and timing are set by ear. Although now I've given up smoking I'll have to scrounge a fag packet if I need to service it

[bob.dent]

Just read aaronjb’s post about clickety clickety in another thread and was reminded of my old uncle.  When I suggested his tappets were a bit noisy (some decades ago) he said he liked them that way “so he could hear they were still working”. 

He was the guy who told me that plugs should always be gapped to the lid of a packet of Benson’s (used to be Player’s folded over, apparently), and that the correct points gap was given by the thickness of the card down the front of the packet.   

Does anybody remember any more of these old techniques before they get lost to posterity? 

Now that's when I used to understand engines!

[bluey]

As said above, I was taught to set points using the foil from a packet of fags, and re-making fuses.  Can't say I enjoyed being shown how to syphon petrol out the tank though. 

[Varche]

When I was 15 my 16 year old neighbours party trick was to flick a lighted cigarette into the tank of his 500 BSA. never understood how it didn't "explode".


Ididn't try ity on my BSA 175 Bantam!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Is the fag packet foil really 0.4mm?

Still, I dont smoke so no worries there.

Had to do points and condenser on a bloody heap of shite Land Rover last week.

Had to stop and remind myself how to do it!

[scimmy_man]

I was taught that if the engine is modified from standard in any way, the dizzy timing will not be standard, so set it using a vacuum gauge on the advance, and aim for the highest reading on a high tickover.

[Omegatoy]

LOL god memories, ok the average thumb nail is around 25thou thick easy to set your plug gaps!!
points? always did by eye as usually the shaft was always worn oval so it generally required a smaller gap to compensate, however usually set them with feeler gauges to start with,
timing? ignition on, set marks to static, loosen distributor and turn till the points spark, back very slightly and timing was spot on,
valve gaps? always done with engine running!! just tighten till they shut up do all stop engine use rule of eight etc, to check they all still have a little movement so wont burn out valves,
or the latest technolgy which was the spqr tappet adjuster, lol each click was equivalent to 1 thou so stting gaps was easy even though the valve gear was worn!!
fag papers were ideal for dropping the sump removing the big end bearingand mains, placing fag paper behind the bearing,put all back together, retorque and the rattling in the morning was cured for another 10k or so, used to be a hours job on the mk2 and 3 zodys!!! lol
carburettor setting? easy with gunsons colour tune to set the right mixture,
balancing them was also easy!!half inch bore pipe set just below the bellmouth, listen to it go to next and listen with practice you could get them spot on, 

[Martin_1962]

I have never had a car with points - my oldest car was one of the first with electronic ignition.

I did reset the air gap once

[dbug]

LOL god memories, ok the average thumb nail is around 25thou thick easy to set your plug gaps!!
points? always did by eye as usually the shaft was always worn oval so it generally required a smaller gap to compensate, however usually set them with feeler gauges to start with,
timing? ignition on, set marks to static, loosen distributor and turn till the points spark, back very slightly and timing was spot on,
valve gaps? always done with engine running!! just tighten till they shut up do all stop engine use rule of eight etc, to check they all still have a little movement so wont burn out valves,
or the latest technolgy which was the spqr tappet adjuster, lol each click was equivalent to 1 thou so stting gaps was easy even though the valve gear was worn!!
fag papers were ideal for dropping the sump removing the big end bearingand mains, placing fag paper behind the bearing,put all back together, retorque and the rattling in the morning was cured for another 10k or so, used to be a hours job on the mk2 and 3 zodys!!! lol
carburettor setting? easy with gunsons colour tune to set the right mixture,
balancing them was also easy!!half inch bore pipe set just below the bellmouth, listen to it go to next and listen with practice you could get them spot on, 

Yep always used to set up twins and triples that way - still do on the 4A's twin 2" SUs 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

LOL god memories, ok the average thumb nail is around 25thou thick easy to set your plug gaps!!
points? always did by eye as usually the shaft was always worn oval so it generally required a smaller gap to compensate, however usually set them with feeler gauges to start with,
timing? ignition on, set marks to static, loosen distributor and turn till the points spark, back very slightly and timing was spot on,
valve gaps? always done with engine running!! just tighten till they shut up do all stop engine use rule of eight etc, to check they all still have a little movement so wont burn out valves,
or the latest technolgy which was the spqr tappet adjuster, lol each click was equivalent to 1 thou so stting gaps was easy even though the valve gear was worn!!
fag papers were ideal for dropping the sump removing the big end bearingand mains, placing fag paper behind the bearing,put all back together, retorque and the rattling in the morning was cured for another 10k or so, used to be a hours job on the mk2 and 3 zodys!!! lol
carburettor setting? easy with gunsons colour tune to set the right mixture,
balancing them was also easy!!half inch bore pipe set just below the bellmouth, listen to it go to next and listen with practice you could get them spot on, 

Oh yes, very familiar, as was running your hand down the HT leads to find any leakage; you knew when you found it in those days before warning signs of "high voltage" under the bonnet!!

[hotel21]

LOL god memories, ok the average thumb nail is around 25thou thick easy to set your plug gaps!!
points? always did by eye as usually the shaft was always worn oval so it generally required a smaller gap to compensate, however usually set them with feeler gauges to start with,
timing? ignition on, set marks to static, loosen distributor and turn till the points spark, back very slightly and timing was spot on,
valve gaps? always done with engine running!! just tighten till they shut up do all stop engine use rule of eight etc, to check they all still have a little movement so wont burn out valves,
or the latest technolgy which was the spqr tappet adjuster, lol each click was equivalent to 1 thou so stting gaps was easy even though the valve gear was worn!!
fag papers were ideal for dropping the sump removing the big end bearingand mains, placing fag paper behind the bearing,put all back together, retorque and the rattling in the morning was cured for another 10k or so, used to be a hours job on the mk2 and 3 zodys!!! lol
carburettor setting? easy with gunsons colour tune to set the right mixture,
balancing them was also easy!!half inch bore pipe set just below the bellmouth, listen to it go to next and listen with practice you could get them spot on, 

Oh yes, very familiar, as was running your hand down the HT leads to find any leakage; you knew when you found it in those days before warning signs of "high voltage" under the bonnet!!

That was when you got the bonnet spring catch in the back of your head, wasn't it??