Dwell angle

[oscar]

The ignition timing changes as dwell is adjusted.

After re reading numerous times and picturing what's going on in my mind's eye I finally get this concept now. 

but..

If you set the dwell to the correct degrees and timing to what it should be then reduce the dwell angle the ignition will be advanced by some amount. The points are closed for less time and therefore open earlier and close later.

just checking something, I need some reinforcement.   So the spark occurs when the point opens? Is that right?

[koan]

just checking something, I need some reinforcement.   So the spark occurs when the point opens? Is that right?

Yes.

As a kid did you ever play with the an old mains transformer out of a TV and a 6 Volt battery?

If you did you would have received the required "reinforcement" from the zap up the arms when the circuit was broken.

koan

[oscar]

  No, I didn't.   I did however put my sisters' fingers in between the contacts at the end of a cord to one of one of those old bakelite phones with a crank handle and then turned crank.  You only get away with it once, on each sister.

Thanks for the info.  What I thought I knew about dwell has been thrown out the window .