Distributer question ..

Post by **JustinMinor1000** » Fri May 28, 2004 8:08 pm

When I examined mirium's engine I realised that by rights it should not really be running at all.

The plugs are filthy, the leads are perished One of the caps was off one of the plugs. The points no longer exist.

My wife has noticed no loss of performance except that she thought it did not idle well.

The distributer cap has some deep scoreing on the inside contacts. to the point that they are 3-4mm deep into the case. It looks to me as if either the cap was fitted wrongly for a long time or that rotor arm has been badly fitted.

Does anyone have any ideas if any of this could be true ? Or am I into a new distributer ? Or at least bearings ?

it's a 1969 Minor 1000 BTW

Post by **Gareth** » Fri May 28, 2004 8:19 pm

When I changed Phyllis' dizzy cap, I noticed that there were some score marks (or possibly a build up??) on the contacts, but I presumed it was the pattern rotor arm that wasn't quite the right size. When this one's been on for a bit, I'll check again.

I can't move the rotor arm shaft, but I can twist the rotor about 1/4 of an inch, but I doubt that would cause it.

I'd suggest replace everything, points, capacitor, plugs, leads, rotor, cap &c. and run the car for a couple of months and see if the scoring / idle problems &c. return. If it ran in that state, a bit of play in the dizzy can't hurt, can it??

Post by **Willie** » Fri May 28, 2004 8:59 pm

A new dizzy cap is extremely cheap, so why not eliminate that
question mark. You will always get a build up of a greyish 'clag'
on the four electrodes inside the dizzy cap which spark as the rotor arm passes them, this clag can be gently chipped off and you may
find that the original flat surface is intact. The only electrodes I
have seen which have actually have grooves worn in them were on
an MG Metro. This wear was caused by the fact that the modern
cars use a much more powerful ignition system than the Minor and
you don't get something for nothing, The components wear out more
rapidly!!

Post by **Gareth** » Mon May 31, 2004 7:50 am

Aha! That would explain it. Thanks, Willie. I'll keep an eye on it, but it sounds like it's nothing to worry about.

Could the scoring/build up have been created because Justin's distributor cap hadn't been changed for a while??

Post by **Alec** » Mon May 31, 2004 5:40 pm

Hello Gareth,

quote,
"I can't move the rotor arm shaft, but I can twist the rotor about 1/4 of an inch, but I doubt that would cause it"

That is quite correct, if you could not twist it then the mechanical advance system is seized up and the car will not run very well.

Alec

Post by **Willie** » Mon May 31, 2004 8:19 pm

Gareth...yes, the longer you run the dizzy cap without a periodical
'declagging' of the four electrodes then,obviously you will get a
thicker build up of the clag. There must be a more technical term
but you know what I mean!!

Post by **Gareth** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 5:48 pm

Thanks Alec, I'm glad that it's doing what it should - she's running well, so I thought it was supposed to do that, but hey, what do I know!!

And as for the declagging; I know precisely what you mean Willie... if you used the technical terms, I probably wouldn't have!!!