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what is dwell?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by easydigger, Mar 18, 2005.

  1. Mar 18, 2005
    easydigger

    easydigger eazydigger

    northern california
    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2004
    Messages:
    9
    what is dwell? is it the fine tuning of the points?
     
    easydigger, Mar 18, 2005
    #1
  2. Mar 18, 2005
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    Essentially yes, anytime you can set the Dwell it will be more accurate than point gap. It is actually the distributor rotation that the points are closed for the coil to build charge for the next spark plug pulse.
     
    Mcruff, Mar 18, 2005
    #2
  3. Mar 18, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    Close.

    To further what Mike said, dwell is simply short for "dwell angle", which is a fancy term for the time that the points are closed to energize the coil. In theory, the number of degrees that the points are closed during the distributor's rotation plus the number of degrees that the points are open equals 360.

    One normally installs a set of breaker points with the gap set to the factory-specified gap by using a blade-type feeler gauge. This will get you in the ballpark, but in order to get things zeroed in you would hook up a dwell meter to the coil and then fine-tune it to the recommended dwell angle.

    Now, in the electronic age, dwell meters are getting to be somewhat rare in the shop environment. You can find them at swap meets, garage sales and on eBay for a few bucks. Few people (except at a swap meet) know what they are used for, and you can get them for .50 to a few bucks. I scored an immaculate, unused Sears/Penske dwell/tach and timing ligth set for $5.00 at a yard sale. YMMV. ;)
     
    w3srl, Mar 18, 2005
    #3
  4. Mar 18, 2005
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    8,526
    or just use "one thin dime"
     
    jpflat2a, Mar 18, 2005
    #4
  5. Mar 19, 2005
    SandhillMike

    SandhillMike Moderator

    Archer, Fla
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2003
    Messages:
    246
    The one thing I liked about GM was the allen screw to set the points, made getting the dwell angle right very easy. Of course they tried to offset this feature by sticking the distributor in the back of the engine. :D
     
    SandhillMike, Mar 19, 2005
    #5
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