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Re: [Fwd: Distributor Help]

To: scott suhring <suhring@lancnews.infi.net>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Distributor Help]
From: Brian Johnson <b.johnson@diamond.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 05:13:29 +0100
Cc: Triumph list <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Organization: Home
References: <3772C997.5B61@lancnews.infi.net> <3772CE65.788202F8@powerbritish.com> <3772E97B.11F8@lancnews.infi.net>
Scott

many years ago I knew someone who had a similar problem with his
Spitfire.  He asked me to check it for him and I found that the pin that
connects the driving dog to the action shaft was broken.  This may not
be what is wrong with yours ( I don't even know if the TR6 has the same
features)  but its worth checking.
-- 
Cheers
Brian Johnson  (UK)
1963  TR4   AFP 503A (UK) / IZS 733(USA) - CT27216-L (now not L but O )
1954  TR2   46 BHX                         TS554-O   UK Car in pieces
1989  Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 GLI   - Eurobox  but it goes !
Internet b.johnson@lycosmail.com
New website http://websites.diamond.co.uk/~b.johnson/index.htm



scott suhring wrote:
> 
> Brian:
> 
> You are the only one currently responding to my follow up post
> so I hope you don't mind me turning back to you.
> 
> Here is what I believe is going on.
> 
> I checked the rotor by cranking the ignition and it turned
> counter clockwise. I never noticed that when I turned the
> engine by hand to check points I was actually turning it
> in the wrong direction...one leason learned today.
> 
> Put all back and still couldn't get it to fully turn over.
> Almost but not quite.  Went back and checked the rotor
> and turned the ignition and the rotor didin't turn. Re-checked
> the base of the distributor to make sure siting flush
> against the clamping plate. Loosened clamping pate and
> reset the distributor (BTW, does it matter the position
> of the rotor when engaging the drive dog? You can put it into
> the slots so the rotor is either way, being 180 degrees from
> the previous position  of the drive dog going in the slot. I
> have tried it in both positions just to be safe).
> 
> What appears to be happening after a few tries of this cycle
> is the drive dog is slipping up out of the slots. I beleive this
> because on some tries the rotor turned fine and then I'd try again
> and it wouldn't turn. If I try turning the rotor by hand it just
> spins freely. If I put downward preasure while turning the
> rotor it will then match the slots and engage, at which point
> it won't turn by hand.  Try cranking the ignition and it spins
> correctly but go back and try again it diesn't spin.
> 
> Seems to me again, that the drive dog is somehow disengaging
> from the slots, thus not getting any spark to the compression
> chamber to turn the engine over???
> 
> Any help would be much appreciated.
> 
> Scott Suhring
> Elizabethtown, PA
> '70 TR6
> 
> Power British Performance Parts, Inc. wrote:
> 
> > Scott,
> >
> > Could it be that the drive dog wasn't quite engaged fully after you checked 
>it?  Be sure the
> > base of the distributor is fully home against the pinch bolt clamp with no 
>gap in between.
> >
> > If all checks out there, leave the cap off the distributor, reach inside 
>and crank the
> > engine with the key.  Watch the rotor.  It should spin counterclockwise 
>when viewed from
> > above.  I just checked one I have on the shelf and the arrow does point in 
>the
> > counterclockwise direction, but that's no guarantee your's is the same.  
>The simple check is
> > to watch it for counterclockwise rotation.
> >
> > If that all works, look at the connections on the coil.  You should have a 
>white/black
> > tracer from the dist to the coil negative terminal and a solid white from 
>the harness to the
> > coil positive.  If all of that wiring is correct, remove the white wire 
>from the coil
> > positive and run a jumper directly from the battery positive to the coil 
>positive and try to
> > start the car (use alligator clips for the jumper and attempt to start it 
>immediately after
> > hooking the jumper wire - if left on for a few minutes, it can burn out the 
>coil).
> >
> > Should the car run fine with the jumper but not with the white wire from 
>the harness, then
> > you need to trace it back to the ignition switch.  Under the dash near the 
>key there is a
> > bundle of a few white wires sticking out of the harness about 3".  They are 
>all pigtailed
> > together.  That is the origin of the white wire that runs to the coil.  
>Perhaps you have a
> > short somewhere in there.
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Brian Schlorff    '61 TR-4     '64 TR-4     '72 TR-6     '79 Spit
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >      Power British                             Check out Power British
> >     371 E. Main St.                                    on the 'net!
> > Norristown, PA 19401
> >    (610) 270-0505              http://www.powerbritish.com/~britcars
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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