Engine stuck, sort of?

[Staggard]

Just a thought, I have seen the scroll pin on the distributor sheer which left both ends of the pin in place so when you look it seems ok until you clamp the drive in the vice and then find you can turn the rotor end with an adjustable.

[Guest]

I checked the distributor roll pin and, unless the shaft turned itself exactly 180 deg, appeared to be intact as I was able to see right through it. Much to my disappointment because that would explain why the rotor was out of position.

[Stagsongas]

I checked the distributor roll pin and, unless the shaft turned itself exactly 180 deg, appeared to be intact as I was able to see right through it. Much to my disappointment because that would explain why the rotor was out of position.

When I had a problem a couple of years ago, the engine turned OK afterward but refused to start. After checking, the ignition timing was almost precisely 180 out. I'm sure I could have rearranged the HT leads and got it to run easily, but I wasn't about to accept that the Fairies came along and messed with my timing as I drove so I took it to bits instead.

Amongst other things, the Jackshaft front roll pin had sheared, but then 'picked up' (jammed) half way around. Afterwards, it looked just as if the distributor rotor had moved 180 degrees, but it hadn't. The Jackshaft cog had done that job for it.

Good Luck

Steve