Thread: Cleaning Points

What is the best way to clean the points on a 2 stroke 5.5 outboard?

I have always had good luck by using an emery board between the contact surfaces. Don't forget to check the gap and adjust as necessary.

Check with your local auto parts store and see if they still sell points files. If you know any old telephone men that use to work on old cross bar switches, he might still have one of the tools used for cleaning the relay contacts in them. They work great.

I always start with a dollar bill. Grab both ends and pull it back and forth. If that works, it removes the least metal. Once you use a file, they'll need filed every time it sets from my experience.

Filing them down flat will let you set them properly, but for all thats involved to get to the points, while in there I would just replace them long with the condenser. All new should last you for a couple of seasons or more.

"gene"


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I took a matchbook (many years back) and glued 400 grit wet or dry on both sides. One pass was all it ever took. Smaller grit than emery board. Might be able to upgrade to electronic for small$. worth looking into.