INTERMITTENT HESITATION

[jamman18]

Hi all,

1977 f2 has been running fine until recently out of nowhere it started jerking especially on acceleration. I checked all the wiring to the coils, the points look fine. Took it for a ride up and down the block a few times and it ran fine. Parked it in the driveway and let it idle and then it started skipping again as if it was running out of gas or plugs were bad. Just no rhyme or reason that I can pin down. Any ideas guys?

[Truck]

Did you check you fuel line/filter? Sounds like it might not be getting fuel.

[jamman18]

Where is the filter located? In the peacock?

[shinyribs]

lol. Just teasing. The petcock will have a screen up inside the tank. Do you have an in-line filter anywhere between the petcock and your carbs?

[TOOLS1]

I was not expecting that.
TOOLS

[jamman18]

Stupid autocorrect!  No extra filter

[Re-run]

Well there could be a couple other issues besides fuel.
Random ignition misfires can occur too.
You say you still have the points. So, double check the gap. Make sure there are no point spikes, you'll know em when you see em.

I would also test the condensers.

Inspect the leads as well. If you have the original coils, well they are quite old. They can and do go bad. So check those wires out. There are tests in the fsm that show how to test the coils, might wanna do that too.

[jamman18]

Just filed the points a couple weeks ago, condenser is good.  I'll check the gaps. Going to check the spark plugs and wires as well. Acts electrical but you never know

[TOOLS1]

Filed the points. I have never had any luck filing points. I know they used to file points back in the 1920's-1950's, but back then points were expensive, and I think it was just to get a few more miles out of them. I also wonder if points today are made of different materials, because like I said, I have never had any luck filing points. I will bet that is your problem. Try some new points.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

I have filed points and they worked ok. Mainly did it when I occasionally got a point spike and so I filed the spike off. Points are cheap though so new ones are the way to go. So whenever I got a spike, the filing was just to get through till new ones came.

[jamman18]

What is the "fsm" where I can find the coil test?

[Re-run]

Factory service manual.
Go to our manual section and you can download it.

[jamman18]

Well, here's an update.  I started with the points. Didn't replace yet as I found one set was gapped way wrong. Hardly gapped at all. Adjusted both and it fired right up and ran smooth up and down the block!  Going to ride it for a few days before I take it any distance but I think that may have been the problem. Of it returns I will replace the points and see if it lasts longer.

[Re-run]

If you are 1 of those that decides to stick with points(nothing wrong with that), you may wish to invest in a dwell meter. You don't need 1 of course, but it is the most accurate way to set points. Most dwell meters also have a tach function. Very useful for tuning the idle mix. And since a set of points can burn out in as few as 6000 miles, cheaper ones, you will use it once in a while.