17 replies to this topic

[RRT22R]

Good Afternoon people.

 

I'm a long time Mini owner and forum lurker and I need some advice.

 

I have just treated myself to a new electronic distributor and sports coil from Powerspark and have a few problems.

 

I got the engine to TDC (as per instructions) and took the cap off. The rotor arm was pointing to No1 lead (about 2 o'clock, if you know what I mean) I roughly eyed the angle of the distributor to get the timing (I've done this many times before) and all was good. The problems started when I went to fit the new distributor, and it would only fit the drive pins with the rotor arm pointing to No 4 lead (Or around 7 o'clock). In other words, the distributor is 180 degrees out.  

 

I've rang Powerspark, and they are not much help, just saying that all their distributors are correct.

 

Any ideas?

[neal]

Did you check that the inlet and exhaust valve are rocking in the opposite direction on number four cylinder (furthest cylinder to the left as you look at it from the front of the car) and both valves closed on number 1 cylinder (nearest to the radiator)?

Don't wish to patronise you but I forget the cylinder arrangement sometimes and you could be setting it up for firing on cylinder number four and you would need to rotate the crank a further 360 degrees.

If this is all good then they have fitted the slot drive on the distributor 180 degrees out, if this is possible?

[mini_man96]

Is the number one cylinder definitely on the compression stroke and not the exhaust stroke? You can check this by removing the valve cover then turning the engine over by hand until the inlet valve for cyl number 1 opens then closes again

[nicklouse]

and the dizzy is a?

[RRT22R]

Thanks for the replies.

 

The dizzy is a Lucas 59D

 

It started and ran okay with the old distributor.

 

Does the dizzy turn at half engine speed? Do I need to turn the engine 180deg? 360deg?

 

I'm sure I'm just missing something obvious....

Edited by RRT22R, 13 April 2017 - 03:45 PM.

[neal]

Thanks for the replies.
 
The dizzy is a Lucas 59D
 
I'm sure I'm just missing something obvious....
 
Does the distributor turn at half engine speed?

Yes, In order for 1,3,4 and number two cylinders to fire in succession the crankshaft rotates 720 degrees and the distributor rotates only 360 degrees during the engine cycle, hence me asking you if had either mistaken the position of number 1 and number 4 cylinder which would cause your distributor to be pointing to number 4 if you had got mixed up with the cylinder arrangement, or you had only rotated it through 360 degrees and not 720.

[RRT22R]

Thanks again for your help. I understand what you are saying, and I'll check in while.

 

However, I can't help thinking that where ever the distributor is when I remove it, the new one will only go in at 180deg to it, so could it be an issue with the way the cap/leads have been positioned?

[GraemeC]

The drive dog on either your new distributor or your old one must be 180 degrees out on the distributor shaft.

 

There's a number of 'fixes' - move all the leads round by two positions on the cap, or rotate the distributor drive spindle through 180 degrees, or remove and refit the distributor drive dog.....

[nicklouse]

Thanks for the replies.
 
The dizzy is a Lucas 59D
 
It started and ran okay with the old distributor.
 
Does the dizzy turn at half engine speed? Do I need to turn the engine 180deg? 360deg?
 
I'm sure I'm just missing something obvious....

Not all A series dizzys are fitted the same. Look at the angle between the rotor arm and the drive dog on your two dizzys.

Later ones were different to the normal ones. Especially if they are from a metro and have an amp on the side.

Often Unknown or forgotten.

[RRT22R]

Pictures...

 

 

Timing marks, indicating that No1 is at TDC

 

 

 

This is the old distributor with the rotor arm pointing to No1 lead, as expected.

 

 

And this is the new electronic dizzy, which will only engage with the drive with the rotor arm pointing 180deg out. 

 

My leads look to be in the right position (with No1 at 'top-right') and are not long enough to move round two positions. Not sure I want to fiddle with the new dizzy, so how do I move the distributor drive? 

 

And how/why would it be like this? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[paul748]

As already mentioned, that TDC position looks like it's No4.

Remove No1 spark plug and rotate the engine a full 360 deg. while sticking your thumb over the plug hole. You should feel pressure building up as the timing mark on the pulley comes round to the TDC pointer, this will confirm No1 at TDC.

Alternatively you could remove the rocker cover and check the valves/rockers, but that would probably mean you'll need to renew the gasket.

Paul

[paul748]

Sorry I just read your first post again, I guess you did not move the engine after removing the old dizzy?

In that case it does look like something different with the new distributor.

Paul

[mini_man96]

Surely the easiest solution would be to move all the leads around by two posts?

[RRT22R]

Surely the easiest solution would be to move all the leads around by two posts?

 

It might be if my new Lucas leads were long enough...

 

I'd also like to know if it's the new dizzy out, or how/why the drive is out... As far as I'm aware, it's the original engine that's never been rebuilt. 

Edited by RRT22R, 13 April 2017 - 07:13 PM.

[panky]

If you move the leads round two positions in the cap they will be long enough as they will be in the same position as your original cap.