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Re: [Healeys] Vacuum advance (was Which electronic ignition?)

To: Chris Dimmock <austin.healey@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Vacuum advance (was Which electronic ignition?)
From: Per Schoerner <healeyguy@bredband.net>
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:47:39 +0200
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Chris
It makes a lot of sense. I checked mine, and it's 5-12-8 as you thought. And the vacuum pipe is connected to the the throttle plate at the rear carb. So, at idle we have very little vacuum, and we have very little force on the weights in the distributor, so we shouldn't have any advance really. Or should we, you say that the advance at idle is mechanic? As engine speed rise we get more advance from the weights and and more advance from the vacuum. But when does it stop? Is the advance from the weights proportional to the engine speed or something else? At what engine speed do the weights start to produce advance, and at what speed do we have to most advance.
And when do we have the highest vacuum, at half throttle perhaps?

I'll tell you the reason I'm investigating this. Last summer I was asked by a friend to take a look at his overdrive. It didn't work as it should. It turned out to be an electrical problem, so that was easily fixed. But while test driving his car I noticed that it didn't really work above 3000 RPM, it just misfired and was generally miserable. I began to suspect the ignition timing, and he told me that he some time in the past had had some problem with the vacuum unit. So he replaced it with a unit from what we think a Sprite. I don't know yet what profile a Sprite has, and I haven't checked if I can see any numbers on his unit yet. Since last summer I have replaced points, capacitor and spark plugs on his car. Rotor and cap are in good condition. I have also changed his carb linkage to a standard set up from what looked to be a complicated home made construction that didn't really work, why someone had changed it in the first place is beyond my understanding. So now the carbs can at least be adjusted in the correct way.

I haven't yet tested the car on the road after these repairs, it's still winter (sort of) here, but I'll make a try next week. It will be very interesting. It runs fine on idle at least.

Today I also checked on a BJ8, and it's also 5-12-8, and the pipe is connected at the throttle plate. That car has a leak in the vacuum pipe, so I doubt it works as it should. But that will be a later problem.

Perhaps I should get myself a dyno!! Have never seen one.

Best regards, Per in Sweden

Chris Dimmock skrev 2012-04-19 01:28:
Hi Per,
That's correct. Sort of. Healeys generally get all their advance at idle 
mechanically, not by vacuum. Is your vacuum connected to the Su or manifold?? 
Not sure specifically about a tri carb setup.
Perhaps I should have said the difference is "opposite" at idle.
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