thingy

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:57 am

What is that bulbous thing halfway along the distributor vacuum pipe and what is it's purpose?

Post by **Gareth** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 8:13 pm

Catching oil/petrol vapour?
Concealing certain powders on cross-channel ferries? (ahem...)
Handy holder for touch-up pens when taken apart?

Come on, guys. Any takers?
It's only on the brass vacuum pipe, isn't it? I don't recall there being one on those nasty plastic jobbies. When my plastic one melted (!!) I bought one of the brass ones from an MG place, because I couldn't get one from my usual supplier.

Still don't know what it does, though!

Post by **Cam** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 11:47 am

I would say (guessing?!?) that you are near the mark with a small catch tank to stop petrol from the carb running down the vac tube and into the dizzy, filling the vac advance unit with fuel!!

This could cause a problem if the diaphragm in the vac unit was split as petrol could then find it's way into the sparky bits and explode!!

Could be................

Post by **Peetee** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 8:09 pm

I wondered this but then changed my mind because the thing is set upright. It would work better set horizontally so the oil, etc, would drop into the wide section. But as it is a vertical section of normal pipe would do just as well. Or perhaps it acts as a area where the pressure drops and the oil falls out of suspension. Either way to my mind horizontal would work best.

Post by **Willie** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 9:42 pm

Yes, it's a flash trap

Post by **Peetee** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 9:44 am

'Yes, it's a flash trap'

Ah, so if I take it off I won't be done for speeding?

Post by **Willie** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:16 pm

Groan!