Author Topic: Points set quality  (Read 9545 times)

Raymond

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Points set quality
« on: November 06, 2005, 09:26:41 »
Anyone else notice this problem?

I have an 051 distributor. I purchased a second new point set from the dealer and the point contacts don't line up properly.  They are OEM Mercedes parts made in Spain.  The moving arm seems to be a bit long.  When installed, you look down on the set and the point contacts are offset by 1/2 their diameter.  The points seem to function well enough, but it doesn't seem right and it bugs me.  This just seems like sloppy manufacturing.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe
« Last Edit: June 17, 2008, 04:10:42 by 280SL71 »
Ray
'68 280SL 5-spd "California" Coupe

isofast

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2005, 11:00:27 »
Ray I also have a 051.
 I have noticed the same thing and it drives me insane. I have ordered point sets from everyone. I have tried Bosch sets from numerous countries worldwide (Bosch is world wide) The best set yet is oddly enough from my local Napa dealer they are cheap Echlin points and contact surface area is small and the set is cheaply manufactured but the points do line up. I have recently put Bosch points in my Dads 1970 Karmann Ghia and these Bosch points look like a finely crafted work of art. Why is it that our point sets are such crap? Some sets I ordered are two piece and I dont even attempt messing with them. I am not a fan of electronic ignition so please no suggestions for that.
Let me know if you find a good quality set Raymond  I will keep trying myself.

First Place AACA Show Winner 350SL July 2003
I love low mile Mercedes.
First Place AACA Show winner for 2004 280SL
1969 280 4spd Papyrus White

A Dalton

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2005, 11:45:16 »
There are guys who still sell the old Filco points .. they were excellent , high quality and I used to use them all tte time..
 Try a google search..
I will look up their # Numbers and post them later today..
I may eve still have a couple of NOS..
Later

isofast

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2005, 12:14:20 »
Arthur me and my pal Hong Kong Phooey thank you.
Still laughing out loud at your cartoon post.
And thanks for the help. :)
Ernie

First Place AACA Show Winner 350SL July 2003
I love low mile Mercedes.
First Place AACA Show winner for 2004 280SL
1969 280 4spd Papyrus White

Ben

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2005, 03:00:35 »
Yes I've noticed this too !  I ordered from my local autofactor and got those crap Bosch ones, then I reordered from MB and got the same. The best points I used were some Italian ones I came across, but I threw the box away and was never able to re-order !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

Mike Hughes

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2005, 17:46:31 »
The best point sets that I have found for a number of my older cars are manufactured by Standard.  Their top-of-the-line sets are branded "Blue Streak."  I've only had my SL for a couple of years and haven't needed to replace points yet.  However, this thread is a reminder that I need to stop by my local supplier I'll check for Mercedes SL applications.  I'll report back with some part numbers (hopefully!).

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
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« Last Edit: November 07, 2005, 17:47:19 by Mike Hughes »
- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havana Brown (408)
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paults1

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2008, 20:59:25 »
Well, I see others have had the same experience as I. I just installed a new Bosch point set in my 051 distributor & the contacts do not line up properly. However the engine runs OK, but I will always be suspect about performance. Has anyone found a better quality source?

Regards, Paul,'63 230SL

Benz Dr.

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2008, 21:28:48 »
That's funny ( well OK, not really ) but I've never run into this, ever.
 Not sure what to think although I am hearing more about it.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

Longtooth

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #8 on: June 17, 2008, 00:51:54 »
Oh... is there somebody (at MB Classic Cnter, or Bosch) to complain to about the mis-aligned 051 points?  Is this mis-aligned points problem just for the 051 distributor PN points from MB / Bosch, or is it also an issue for other 60's/70's era Bosch points also.

jameshoward

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #9 on: June 17, 2008, 01:10:43 »
I note from the SLS ignition page that there are a good number of varying points available for our cars. I don't suppose that some people are trying to fit points that might be just slightly wrong? I haven't noticed point alignment to be a problem either. SLS seems to ship the normal Bosch ones.
James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

mdsalemi

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2008, 06:48:54 »
quote:
Originally posted by Ben

Yes I've noticed this too !  I ordered from my local autofactor and got those crap Bosch ones, then I reordered from MB and got the same. The best points I used were some Italian ones I came across, but I threw the box away and was never able to re-order !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.




Raymond and Ben--I have a good suspicion that the MB points "from Spain" are Bosch points, so as for quality it probably doesn't matter whether they are Bosch-branded or MB-branded, they are made in the same place.

Thank goodness they are not made in China [yet]; not only would you have the same quality issue, they'd probably have some toxic component to them as well! ;)
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
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wwheeler

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2008, 12:23:16 »
Thank you for posting this thread about the points. I to have a 051 distributor that I just restored. I fiddled with the set to no avail. I did notice that the points are parallel but just not on the same centerline. Being that this was my first point replacement on a MB, I thought that maybe they were supposed to be that way. Like evryone else, my car runs great with them.

It still bugs me! If someone finds are better set, please post.
Wallace
Texas
'68 280SE W111 coupe
'60 220SE W128 coupe
'70 Plymouth Roadrunner 440+6

jacovdw

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2008, 11:35:36 »
I had similar problems with Bosch points on my 046 distributor. The point contacts would be parallel, but with a slight overbite.

My pagoda would run fine, but it bothered me quite a bit.

Problems solved when I converted to the Pertronix setup... :D

Desertpagoda

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #13 on: June 21, 2008, 07:01:33 »
Find some "IKAR" points.None better
kb

Raymond

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #14 on: June 21, 2008, 20:56:21 »
I started this thread 2-1/2 years ago.  Sometime about 18 months ago, I found the permanent solution... a Crane ignition.
Ray
'68 280SL 5-spd "California" Coupe

seattle_Jerry

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #15 on: September 01, 2008, 02:00:00 »
You just need to "adjust" them. I stuck a screwdriver blade between the dist. shaft and the lower point support and turned the driver lightly. The support bends easily into alignment. Haynes manual says to bend if misaligned.

Benz Dr.

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Re: Points set quality
« Reply #16 on: September 01, 2008, 19:38:04 »
Some of this depends on where the points were made. Sets made in Brazil or Mexico can be of different quality than those made in Germany, but there's a reason.
In SA, some people simply want something that will work and cheap cost is an issue. Most vehicals today don't have points and if you think about something being diven down there for the last 50 years, you can only imagine what it might look like. They make a sort of
 '' 3rd world '' quality, so to speak, that does the job for very non discerning buyers. No shop woth it's salt would knowingly use something like that around here.
I say, '' knowingly '' because sometimes you just won't know.
 Price can be your first clue. A good set of points should be around 10 dollars but may be more or less than that.  Bosch, under the direction of some big players, has discontinued some types of products including certain point sets. Nice, eh?
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC