Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I replaced the cap and rotor with the Echlin brass cap for a B210 for the EI dizzy I have. I'm reminded what a nice improvement a new cap and rotor make.

Linda

Bump.
I still have problems with carbon tracking so I think I need to drill a hole in a test cap. I have an MSD too and some American cars had distributors rust inside from what I read. Perhaps the hotter coil has an effect.
Does anyone know the name of the type of plastic for the cap that is best?
Beware on EBay, some cap pics show brass contacts but the item does not have it, always check.
Linda

what's carbon tracking ?

Black deposits on the distributor contacts inside that interfere with smooth running of the engine .
Linda

that's what I thought . they build premature in some situations? I see that on mine but it's not quickly built up . I thought that was normal ? I had a couple caps in the beginning get actually nicked up by the rotor ,because for the first year they kept giving me the wrong cap. unbenonce to me .I wondered why it kept missing . haha what you don't know . or I don't know I mean . now at risk of going to long on this comment , what does drilling a hole do ? or did I read incorrectly?

Linda wrote: ↑Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:57 am Black deposits on the distributor contacts inside that interfere with smooth running of the engine .
Linda

My understanding is that carbon tracking is actually deposits that are on the plastic that bridge the gap between the contacts, and that leads to misfiring. I could be wrong though

Not sure about that either. But I can testify that deposits on the contacts are not helpful, it is essentially a dirty connection like any other electrical connection. So you can clean it off but you lose some metal. After cleaning, car will run better, a new cap is always optimal.
I replace mine every 3-6 months of essentially no driving.
Linda

spl310 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 11, 2019 12:39 pm

Linda wrote: ↑Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:57 am Black deposits on the distributor contacts inside that interfere with smooth running of the engine .
Linda

My understanding is that carbon tracking is actually deposits that are on the plastic that bridge the gap between the contacts, and that leads to misfiring. I could be wrong though

that makes sense .. is this normal and meant to be kept clean or not supposed to happen at all ? sorry I always have allot of questions .

Normal to have it not be a problem as stated above, for some time in a clean cap. May not be the same for a MSD system .
Linda

ugh . what's a msd system .?

you can't learn fast enough on this stuff .

Do a search for a fuller explanation. It is a multi spark discharge system , a type of ignition .
Linda

got ya ..
thx