Points - Parts Geeks Only

[ctaylor738]

My fintail sits a lot and wouldn't start last week when I went to give it a little exercise.  It needed a set of points, so I ordered them from the EPC, but they turned out to not work.  Investigating why, I learned the following:

- there are right-hand and left-hand points, depending on which side the little arm is on, looking down at the point set.
- there are one-piece and two-piece points.  I believe that the difference is where the post is.  Two-piece if the post is on the distributor plate, one-piece if the post is part of the point assembly.  Never mind that you can easily take the one-piece points apart into two pieces.

My fintail needs a right-hand one-piece set, but the PN in the EPC is for a RH two-piece.  Why, I don't know.  See picture.

I believe that our (113) cars take one-piece, left-hand versions.

All of this caused me to clean up the old points to get the car running and order a Pertronix for it.

You're right, I do need to get out more.  

Merry Christmas!

[Benz Dr.]

For the most part, right hand points are for vacuum advance distributors and left hand points are for vacuum retard distributors. Two piece and one piece point sets are more a matter of the age of the particular unit you're working on. The newer the unt, the more likely it will be one piece.
113 cars use several different distributors and three basic types of points. Two piece vacuum advance, two piece vaccum retard, and one piece vaccum retard. Replacement with something like the Pertronix system only replaces the points and there can be other problems with the distrbutor that won't be corrected. Make sure the vaccum portion is working and that the fly weights are not siezed up or sticking while you have the distributor out of the engine.

[ja17]

Hello Chuck,

Check and make sure your distributor is the original and not a later replacement. Most of those engines without the factory electronic ignition, used the two piece points.

Best to get the distributor number then the correct Bosch number for the ignition points. Once you have the correct Bosch number you can order the correct original Bosch points from any Bosch dealer. Most likely you will save $ also.

If you post the distributor number, we can supply the Bosch number to you.

[ctaylor738]

Well, decided to stick with points, and having trouble finding the right set.  The distributor's Bosch number is 0 231 170 081, maybe for a later 4-clylinder like the 220 or 230.  But the points that come up for those engines look to be left-handed.

Update - after some internet searching, I found out that this distributor is used in late 60s - early 70s 200, 230.4, and 220 cars.  The PN for their points is 000 158 40 90, Bosch number 1 237 013 044 aka 01011.  From the various pictures, it looks like it will work.

[ja17]

Hello Chuck,

Yes, my books show that "081" as a replacement distributor. Left hand points with out center post (two piece) and a fork type wire connector  is  Bosch #1 237 013 007.   Left hand points with a center post (one piece) and a spade type wire connector is as you stated #1 237 013 044