Distributer twisting

[Daz36uk]

Hello all

I am having a few problems with a series 3 2.25 "A series engine" with the offset distributer drive dog. On new years eve I was driving gently at about 45 mph when my engine just stopped without making any bangs or other noises. On inspection at the side of the road the two drive dog teeth had snapped off. I replaced the complete distributer with a new one.

I drove to work this morning just one mile came home twice during the day and the landy was running the best I have ever known it to. On my way home tonight again the engine just stopped. Looking under the bonnet the dizzy was twisted through 180 deg with all the leads wrapped around it.

My question is what would cause this to happen twice in six miles.

Just to let you know when I timed the engine I cant get it anywhere near the timing marks on petrol or lpg but it was running sweet just by doing it by ear.

Any ideas would be very welcome

Daz

[rtbarton]

For the whole thing to twist the clamp must have been a bit loose and/or the shaft siezed or the rotor arm snagged.

Look for damage to the cap, check the weights haven't come adrift, make sure the pinchbolt on the clamp is tight and there is a new nylock nut fitted to the pinch bolt.

Is the dizzy getting enough lubrication.

As for the timing marks being out, I had this myself. The timing was about 30 deg out according to my timing light, but in ran sweet as a nut. I put it down to the strobe triggering too early, perhaps when the points closed rather than when they opened. If you use a neon strobe that takes its power from the battery set the sensitivity as low as you can.

[Gazzar]

For the whole thing to twist the clamp must have been a bit loose and/or the shaft siezed or the rotor arm snagged.

Look for damage to the cap, check the weights haven't come adrift, make sure the pinchbolt on the clamp is tight and there is a new nylock nut fitted to the pinch bolt.

Is the dizzy getting enough lubrication.

As for the timing marks being out, I had this myself. The timing was about 30 deg out according to my timing light, but in ran sweet as a nut. I put it down to the strobe triggering too early, perhaps when the points closed rather than when they opened. If you use a neon strobe that takes its power from the battery set the sensitivity as low as you can.

I once saw a 5 bearing engine that had a wandering dizzy. When running the whole dizzy would gently wobble around. Not spin, but, just rock in a circle around.

I traced this to the drive dog off the camshaft. This was a two piece unit that consisted of a gear, and a separate drive that slotted into the gear, similar to the dizzy arrangement but not offset.

I swapped the two parts for the single piece gear dizzy drive that I had on a spare 3 bearing engine - problem solved.

I can't figure out how the original arrangement was supposed to work, there was nothing stopping the two parts from sliding out from the axis.

Long story short, check behind the plate that the dizzy attaches to - there could be trouble there.

G.

[rtbarton]

The stud that goes through the mounting plate to the block could be missing/broken.

[Daz36uk]

The clamp and bolt were replaced with new on sunday with the new distributer and were tight enough to generate swarf around the base of the distributer. It looks as if the rotor arm has made contact with the distributer cap as the contact on the rotor arm was broken off (sorry I could not see that in the dark last night).

I still think it is more than a bit strange that its the second time in six miles that the distributer has rotated or broken off the drive pegs. I had a quick look in daylight today and there doen't appear to be any other damage other than the rotor are . I think I need to look a bit deeper before I risk starting it again. I'll keep you posted as to what I find.

Thanks for all your advise I will check everything you have suggested.

Daz