Lumenition chopper chopped

[Td5newbie]

As I hadn't driven the stag over the past few glorious weekends it bit me yesterday.
I was driving along my driveway when all of a sudden the engine died. I spent hours trying to work out what was wrong.

After work tonight I checked the distributor and saw this.

Somehow the wiring has got in the way of the chopper and broken two arms on the chopper and trashed all of the wiring.

I'll need a new sensor and chopper but wondered if I could replace these bits without upsetting the timing?
Any advice appreciated- especially how to avoid it happening again.
Many thanks.

[tjk]

Hi
Strange as I had taken off my distributor cap to put a bit of oil in the distributor yesterday, where I noticed that the wires to sensor where chafed. On checking I could see that the wires were rubbing against the chopper. What seems to have happened was the wires had been pulled from the outside of the distributor which had the effect of pulling he wires inside up towards the chopper. Worth checking your distributor for this.

Tim

[flying farmer]

The wires from the optical unit need fixing down to the base plate with a small cable tie, because as Tim mentioned it is possible for the wires to get pulled outside the distributor.

I had the same thing happen a few years ago with a brand new unit. I was lucky in that there was a big enough stub of wires left on the optical unit to shorten the damaged wires and solder them back together so only needed a new chopper.
Make sure any cable tie is fixed to the rotating part of the baseplate as this moves with the vacuum advance.

You might get lucky and end up with the same ignition timing, but I would get it checked all the same

Neil

[72BLUE]

Any advice appreciated- especially how to avoid it happening again.......

When I overhauled my distributor, I put the wires in cable sleeve (and a strain relief boot) and (as above from Neil) used a small cable tie as per picture below.

Cheers
Keith

[Td5newbie]

Many thanks Gents.
I'll see if I can put some alignment marks on the distributor shaft to line up with two of the arms.
Can't believe the price of a replacement sensor!

[flying farmer]

Many thanks Gents.
I'll see if I can put some alignment marks on the distributor shaft to line up with two of the arms.
Can't believe the price of a replacement sensor!

I can, I had to replace one a couple of months ago!

£68 +£3 postage was about the best I found!
Neil

[wilf]

If you replace the chopper, you will need to retime the engine, as it is very doubtful that the new one will go into exactly the same position.

[Rubce]

If you replace the chopper, you will need to retime the engine, as it is very doubtful that the new one will go into exactly the same position.

The Chopper fixes on the hex sided section of the shaft so can only go in one position so I don't believe the timing can be affected. I changed mine recently and the car ran straight away.

Cheers

Bruce

[wilf]

The new choppers don't fit like the old ones - ask me how I know.............. at least the replacement I got was different.

[Td5newbie]

Thanks for your help. Apologies that this seems a duplicate post- I see someone else has had their dizzy wiring/ chopper problems . It didn't come up when I did a search - only now have I looked at the thread with the unknown part.

[Stagsongas]

I can, I had to replace one a couple of months ago!

£68 +£3 postage was about the best I found!
Neil

Neil,

Would you let me know where you got your new sensor from? Mine needs replacement (car unusable) but given the exhorbitant prices I've been quoted for a new sensor, I'm toying with the idea of removing Lumenition and going back to points, at least until I install a full blown mappable electronic system.

I guess I can put up with £71 for now though.

Regards

Steve

[Lingen]

Steve. I have a feeling I will get shot down for this, but two years ago when my old Piranha unit failed, I bought Powerspark unit from their stand at the NEC. I was a bit sceptical that something so cheap would work, but it transformed my engine, and has been totally reliable. As I think they are only about £40, including a new rotor arm, I eventually bought a spare, which I keep in the car. It seems I may never need it.
Mike.

[Stagsongas]

Steve. I have a feeling I will get shot down for this, but two years ago when my old Piranha unit failed, I bought Powerspark unit from their stand at the NEC. I was a bit sceptical that something so cheap would work, but it transformed my engine, and has been totally reliable. As I think they are only about £40, including a new rotor arm, I eventually bought a spare, which I keep in the car. It seems I may never need it.
Mike.

Thanks Mike.

That's another backstop for me to go to, I have seen it mentioned favourably before but forgot the name. All I'd have to figure is how to remove the delicate looking Lumenition Chopper without damage, it could do someone some good someday.

Regards

Steve

[wilf]

Neil,

Would you let me know where you got your new sensor from? Mine needs replacement (car unusable) but given the exhorbitant prices I've been quoted for a new sensor, I'm toying with the idea of removing Lumenition and going back to points, at least until I install a full blown mappable electronic system.

I guess I can put up with £71 for now though.

Regards

Steve

If it is the chopper you need, look on ebay for lumenition fitting kit FK113 - around £20.

[Stagsongas]

If it is the chopper you need, look on ebay for lumenition fitting kit FK113 - around £20.

Thanks Wilf,

But my Chopper's OK. Its the sensor that is failing on my car, and they must be made out of Gold, Platinum and flawless Diamonds.

Regards

Steve