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The Distributor Now the fun starts ! Remove the distributor cap by flipping off the two steel clips (that's how it is on mine which is a Bosch type). There is no need to remove the HT leads from the cap unless you are replacing it. Lift away the distributor cap and inspect the inside. It should be clean, crack-free with no signs of carbon 'tracks' between the 4 metal electrodes. If it is suspect, treat yourself to a new one; they cost a few pounds to replace. Most importantly, check the carbon electrode at the very top of the inside of the cap. It should stick out several mm and be spring loaded. Again, replace the cap if it is suspect. If everything is OK, a dust with a clean cloth is all that is required. The next thing you can see is the 'rotor
arm'. Grab it with your fingers and pull it off. The tip of the rotor is brass and this
should be cleaned up with some emery cloth. Don't worry about putting it back on the wrong
way as it has a notch to ensure a one-way fit. You should now be able to see the 'points'. Take my advice and replace the points every service. They are difficult to re-set if worn or pitted and they are very cheap (under £3). Place the new set on the top of the distributor. They should locate themselves in a small hole. Replace the screw but don't tighten it yet as we have to set the points correctly. Setting points can be a bit tricky at
first so don't despair if it doesn't work first time. You will need a feeler gauge set to
0.45mm. Firstly, place a 19mm spanner on the crankshaft pulley nut (the pulley at the
bottom of the front of the engine). Turn clockwise slowly, and you will see the shaft in
the centre of the distributor also turn. The shaft is a 'rounded square shape', and you
need to turn it so that the small contact pad on the points is resting on a 'corner' of
the shaft. Try it a few times before deciding you have got it right. It is all down to eye
judgment so feel free to practice. The easiest way to do the next part is as follows.
Open the points way too far and tighten down the screw. Now take the feeler gauge and
place in the large gap. Hold the gauge in one hand and with the other undo the screw again
until the points snap shut on the feeler gauge. Re-tighten the screw and remove the feeler
gauge; you should have a 0.45mm gap. Now rotate the engine with the spanner again and
check the gap a few times. If you are sure it is OK, replace the contact wire and then
apply some Vaseline to around the distributor shaft. I would also squirt a few drops of
oil down the centre where the shaft protrudes (but don't go crazy), and also put two drops
of oil on the felt pad that is on the very top of the shaft. For perfect points setting, I suggest you invest in a dwell meter that helps you set the points very accurately. Expect to pay £15 to £20 for a DIY model. All come with easy-to-use instructions, and you should set the points to give a dwell of 50 degrees on the meter. This usually takes two or three attempts to get right. Follow the rule: if the dwell is too big, the gap is too big, if the dwell is too small the gap needs to be made bigger. |
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