Fitting the distributor

[fool73]

Wasn't sure if to start a new thread as this is related to my "Hunting at idle" thread, but here goes.
I decided to go back to basics starting with checking the ignition timing. I found i was set to about 10 degrees BTDC and at that the distributor was turned about as much as it could. I could maybe force it a bit further but surely that cant be right ? It certainly runs much sweeter if I take the dizzy bolts out and turn it a bit further. So I thought the dizzy must be a tooth out. I tried turning the dizzy one tooth but it would not fully engage. I turned it two teeth and it would. Im guessing it will only engage every other tooth as there are 12 teeth on the gear but only 6 flats on the shaft. If I turn it two teeth (one flat) then it won't run at all. What is going on here. I can't seem to get the dizzy in a position where I can get to 12 BTDC.

[richardthestag]

I once had this issue on a friends car because the hex drive in the distributor was stuck in at a very slight angle.

It really was wedged solid. like molegrips and two folk doing a tug of war on it and the distributor body

once removed and cleaned up i reinstalled it into the dizzy and was able to rotate it one tooth for install

On my car with #2 piston at tdc the rotor points at the nearest coil securing bolt. ROM suggests the furthest but when I do that I have the same issue as you have experienced.

[scraggs]

I have just had problems with mine,would start and run in a fashion. Adjustment was right at the limit so I took distributer out and moved it round one notch. Now perfect. I built distributer up from scratch with powerspark modual and I think this was causing problems with the static setup. I couldn't refer back to points as it didn't have any when I got it.

[Stagdad]

The 6 sided hex drive is for the oil pump so it can be moved to where you need it, you should be able to move it 1 tooth.
cheers Steve

[fool73]

Thanks guys. I have now managed to get it to move one tooth and have adjusted the timing to where I want it. It's still hunting though, so I will return to carry on trying to find the source of that, as in my other thread.

[scraggs]

If you have sorted timing then maybe too rich. Remember what a car sounds like if you leave the choke out to far for too long? Does it sound like that? Weak mixture tends to rev a little highish but quickly drops if any load is put on engine.