The Ford Barn

Big Red 51 · 12-25-2023, 10:53 AM

What is the correct point gap for the 1953 Ford (W10) OD Relay Point. Mine is .050 but may be skipping occasionally. Not stated in the Ford Shop Manual

Thanks Much, Don

38 coupe · 12-25-2023, 07:11 PM

I don't think the gap matters much as long as the contacts are clean. The moving part in the solenoid travels much further than .050". If you are having occasional failure to engage it is more likely to be dirty contacts somewhere in the system, don't forget to clean the points in the governor if you are using it.

pistonbroke · 12-26-2023, 10:09 AM

You kick down switch may also have burnt or dirty contacts.

Big Red 51 · 12-26-2023, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pistonbroke

You kick down switch may also have burnt or dirty contacts.

PB, KD is new plus it is working ok.
Thanks, Don

rjlester · 12-26-2023, 12:12 PM

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I second the notion that the points should be clean, and any electrical connections.

As for the new kickdown switch, I had a defective one that shortly after I bought it, was intermittent. The colder it got outside the worse it behaved. I had to flick the kickdown switch with my thumb beneath the gas pedal to get it to work. Took it apart and the grease they put in there was dried up and very sticky. I had bought another new one at that point, took it apart and it was the same. Bad grease.

So, you might think the kickdown switch is ok because it's new, but it may not.

12-25-2023, 10:53 AM	#1
Big Red 51 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 134	Borg Warner OD Relay Gap(1953) What is the correct point gap for the 1953 Ford (W10) OD Relay Point. Mine is .050 but may be skipping occasionally. Not stated in the Ford Shop Manual Thanks Much, Don

12-25-2023, 07:11 PM	#2
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,137	Re: Borg Warner OD Relay Gap(1953) I don't think the gap matters much as long as the contacts are clean. The moving part in the solenoid travels much further than .050". If you are having occasional failure to engage it is more likely to be dirty contacts somewhere in the system, don't forget to clean the points in the governor if you are using it.

12-26-2023, 10:09 AM	#3
pistonbroke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Perry Mo. Posts: 841	Re: Borg Warner OD Relay Gap(1953) You kick down switch may also have burnt or dirty contacts.

12-26-2023, 12:12 PM	#5
rjlester Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 291	Re: Borg Warner OD Relay Gap(1953) Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I second the notion that the points should be clean, and any electrical connections. As for the new kickdown switch, I had a defective one that shortly after I bought it, was intermittent. The colder it got outside the worse it behaved. I had to flick the kickdown switch with my thumb beneath the gas pedal to get it to work. Took it apart and the grease they put in there was dried up and very sticky. I had bought another new one at that point, took it apart and it was the same. Bad grease. So, you might think the kickdown switch is ok because it's new, but it may not.