Removing the distributor for checking...

[Arthurdaily]

When you change the points etc... do you remove the distributor? Also, is there a simple forumla for remembering which plug is conected to which dis cap knob?

Cheers!

[bmcecosse]

Put a small tie-wrap around the #1 plug lead cap - then it's easy to fit them 1342 anti-clock around the dizzy cap. And yes - you can pop the dizzy out to service it - but make a good note of where exactly it was fixed so you can get it back in more or less the same place - and then you can set up the timing with a road test.

[Arthurdaily]

Bysetting up the timing with a road test, do you mean moving the whole distributor slightly anti or clockwise until it 'sounds' right?

[Arthurdaily]

Dear BMC Ecosse... you know I'm starting to irritate myself with all my questions about servicing and stuff... and to combat this I purchased the club dvd, but I still have so many questions...

What is pinking?
What is retardation (I'm a teacher... but don't think it means the same as when I use it in the staffroom)
How to set the timing with a strobe..
What IS a strobe
Etc...

Is there anywhere on this site, or anywhere else, that has full coverage without asking loads of daft questions?

[bmcecosse]

I was given a 'strobe' 40 years ago - it's still in it's box......... Yes - twiddle the dizzy slightly either way to get the smoothest idle then nip it down. Road test to listen for pinking - light metallic 'tinkling' sound when you put your foot down hard in top gear. This is a bad sign - so retard slightly until there is no pinking - and if there WAS no pinking in the first place - advance it until it DOES pink, then retard slightly etc etc

[Arthurdaily]

Can you advance and retard when the engine is running? I guess not...

[RobThomas]

Yes, but keep your fingers clear of the fan blades.
Drive, pop bonnet, tweak distributor, drive etc etc.

To my ears, pinking sounds like ball bearings dropped into a wine glass.

[MarkyB]

Be a bit wary of touching the HT leads when the engine is running too!

[Arthurdaily]

Thin rubber gloves me thinks lol

[MarkyB]

I'm not sure how much extra insulation thin rubber gloves would add, just grab it around the base of the cap.

[les]

Retardation ----backward, so maybe similar to your staff room conversations!

[chrisryder]

the suggestion of a cable tie around one lead is a good one.

if you're really unsure, you can tie one around the lead to the plug nearest you, and tie two around the next, and 3 around the 3rd and so on.

[Arthurdaily]

That is a good idea too - actually I have found a white paint pen - I'm going to write on them all

[Arthurdaily]

I'm also going to make a line on the distributor and a line on the seating of the distributor so can line it up exactly how it came out

[bmcecosse]

The pen will rub off - just use the one tie-wrap - it's all you need, won't fall of or get rubbed off......

[Arthurdaily]

Ill do both lol, oh by the way BMC, the reason I wanted a new pump wasn't just because it was the wrong one, but because the car is running a little rough, a bit hesitant on acceleration and also a rough idle, when cold or warm, and on a past post the culprit turned out to be a slightly dodgy fuel pump, so thought I'd try that, as all other simple things: like plugs, air filter, carb dashpot oil level etc... seem fine, so will change pump to original style and change condensor and then fingers crossed... if that doesn't work, then I'll try to reset the carb mix etc.. following a previous thread I read...

[bmcecosse]

The pen will rub off - just use the one tie-wrap - it's all you need, won't fall of or get rubbed off......

[bmcecosse]

Doubt the pump is the problem - but ideally you should change it anyway.