dizzy spring

[cadetchris]

the tiny little advance and retard spring that connects to the plate in the dizzy keeps coming off.
This in turn totally upsets the timing, the engine runs like a badgers bum and i eventually stop completely.

i had this problem before and temporally solved it by putting a blob of glue on the little peg, but this didnt work. so what can i do for a more permanent solution?

[bmcecosse]

Do you mean the TWO little springs on the bob-weights down in the depth of the dizzy -or the long/thin spring attached to the advance/retard vacuum unit??

[cadetchris]

The long thin spring that is connected to the advance and retard knob. It keeps popping off its little peg.

[bmcecosse]

Well - it should not - if fitted correctly. Is the vacuum advance working? What model dizzy is this ?

[MarkyB]

It sounds like the moving plate that it attaches to may be stuck, you should be able to move it with your fingers.

I think there is a C shaped wire clip that retains the spring on the post too.

[bmcecosse]

There is a C clip on the thumb screw adjustment shaft - but I don't remember one on the spring stub.

[cadetchris]

well it would be useful if there was one.

so, how can i stop this spring slipping off? i though about a little nut on the end, but i dont have a die the right size (i like to do things properly now and then)

i also considered taking the whole thing off and drilling a very small hole through the peg and threading the end of the spring through it, but considering i have just got my timing just right, i am naturally reluctant to do thus as well.

[bmcecosse]

Is this a 25D dizzy? I'll try to get a look at a spare one later to see what the problem could be.

[MarkyB]

There is a C clip on the thumb screw adjustment shaft

That's what I was thinking of! I knew there was a pingfeckit, in the area .

[Alec]

Hello Chris,

squeeze the end of the spring, the round section, it should need some force to push it on the spindle, which has a slight recess around the top circumference where the spring loop should sit in.

Alec

[les]

Maybe the spring is bent, usually it tends to want to settle about 5mm down the post.

[cadetchris]

tbh, i am not sure what the spring is up to, it did it again to me whilst on a rare venture into the fast lane on the A1, safe to say the look on peoples faces as i dropped from 65 to 10 in as many seconds wasnt great.

[cadetchris]

would jamming a wee little nut on the peg work or would it interfere with the points

[MarkyB]

dropped from 65 to 10

Even without the vacuum advance working a Minor will do 65, just not as sprightly getting there.
That sounds more like the engine cut out entirely.

[cadetchris]

it did, the entire timing went nuts, when i stopped the main plate in the dizzy was the opposite side to what it should of been, so the timing was very very out

[les]

I think you need to strip and rebuild, following some diagrams. You may have something out of line somewhere!

[cadetchris]

well i thought about that, but its only started doing it and i havent had it to bits, but i might take the plate off and the advance retard thing and check them and see how they are fitting together. would be easier than taking the whole thing out and messing up my timing

[les]

Yes that's an idea.Good luck. It's difficult to see why the spring should pop off, the answer may be found in the vacuum advance unit.