Loose points pivot post

[Triton Thrasher]

Does this happen to anyone else?  Three times I've had points pivots come loose, closing up the points gap, on steel K2F backplates. 

Are there good and bad backplates on the market, or only bad?

[dpaddock]

I suspect these are aftermarket plates.
You could braze the pin or, conversely, get a Lucas original from Mitch Klempf.
David

[Triton Thrasher]

Thanks- he stocks a lot of stuff there! The post looks like brass, so maybe soldering is a better option than brazing.

[MikeN]

I dont think you should soft solder. Its not going to be very strong.
You could use silver solder.Brass silver solders very easily.
Easy flo no. 2  .Melting range 608-617 deg C. Brass melts at 850 deg C.
Or buy a new one.
Mike

[Triton Thrasher]

I don't grudge £30 for a new one. I wouldn't be so happy about 10 new ones for £300 going loose in quick succession though!

Silver solder option sounds worth a try.

[Triton Thrasher]

Practicing on one that went loose before, I dribbled some plumbers' solder into the joint and it seems good.  Its pivot post is a strange copper-coloured metal. Maybe it's copper.  The newer one that's on the bike is brass.

What are those toothed washers called? the ones that hold the moving point on to the post on a steel backplate? Are they available elsewhere than singly in sets of points?

[fido]

They are called Starlock washers:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4mm-Starlock-Washer-Uncapped-6492-x-15_W0QQitemZ300309615471QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_DIY_Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ?hash=item300309615471

[Triton Thrasher]

They are called Starlock washers:

Sounds like a BSA invention.  Ta.