advance and retard

[therat04]

The Stag is driving like a dream except for one irritating little thing, a flat spot on acceleration.
This was present when i had strombergs fitted and is still there now i have webers fitted, its not much of a problem just another little thing that irritates me these days, you roar away in first head back in the seat lovely then flat spot, just for a bit then picks up, into 2nd head sinks into head rest then flat spot same again just for a bit then away again.
The mechanics among you will already know the problem but semi plebs ( i have been promoted ) like myself just did not have a clue.
The answer came via Ed China on wheeler dealers the episode with the Fiat Dino with a 2.5 Ferarri Engine, this to had a flat spot, the problem on that engine was the distributor advance and retard, the weights inside the dizzy were seized stopping the advance or retard on acceleration, now i have not a clue whether a stag has weights ball bearings or whatever inside the dizzy but i thought i would cast an eye anyway.
The advance and retard vacum pipe always there but never checked, well not by me anyway, this was very loose at each end probably letting in air could be reduced suction , fitted a new pipe and fittings, bingo problem solved no flat spot, thanks ed china for a nudge, anyone with a flat spot check your vacum pipe first simple fix...Steve

[Moraystag]

Good when you find it's an easy fix, gives you a boost to make up for all the small jobs that turn into a right bl**dy nightmare

Mike

[V Mad]

I have been working on a friends car (lovely stag) which had a problem with the engine stalling. He also wanted a recon dissy. First I checked carb balance, which was way out so after sorting that I had a poke around the dissy. I noticed that the vacuum advance was not working, and after a bit of investigation I found that the pipe was blocked. Someone had put a piece of metal in one of the rubber elbows, apparently to stop any vacuum advance. Weird or what?? Even after clearing the blockage, the advance still wasnt working properly, and I found that the vacuum unit was sticking and not pulling evenly. So a new dissy is now on its way.

I then fitted a temporary loan dissy with a more radical advance curve, and road tested it. No more stalling now, and it revs more freely pulling stronger all the way.

You never know what you are going to find on a 40+ year old car.

[therat04]

Good when you find it's an easy fix, gives you a boost to make up for all the small jobs that turn into a right bl**dy nightmare

Mike

Hello Mike wish i was nearer i would come and give you a hand, you have had a lot of bad luck recently, positive thinking Mike....Steve

[therat04]

I have been working on a friends car (lovely stag) which had a problem with the engine stalling. He also wanted a recon dissy. First I checked carb balance, which was way out so after sorting that I had a poke around the dissy. I noticed that the vacuum advance was not working, and after a bit of investigation I found that the pipe was blocked. Someone had put a piece of metal in one of the rubber elbows, apparently to stop any vacuum advance. Weird or what?? Even after clearing the blockage, the advance still wasnt working properly, and I found that the vacuum unit was sticking and not pulling evenly. So a new dissy is now on its way.

I then fitted a temporary loan dissy with a more radical advance curve, and road tested it. No more stalling now, and it revs more freely pulling stronger all the way.

You never know what you are going to find on a 40+ year old car.

Hello Chris i was lucky it was not a problem with the distributor and a good job i checked the simple thing first which was about my limit , but such a difference driving it through the gears smooth as silk now...Steve