How Is This Possible???

[codekiddie]

Had a couple of free hours today, so decided to fit the replacement Vacuum advance unit I recently purchased. Simple enough job :shock:

I have had the distributor off before and not encountered any problems with refitting, but this morning I am a bit confused (doesn't take much).

As I had done before prior to removal, I turned the engine to TDC on No.1 plug, so I had a known starting point. These two pictures were taken before I removed the distributor:

As you can see the pointer is on the TDC mark, and the rotor arm in line with a red mark I put on the distributor body for alignment purposes, and pointing roughly between the top hose and the fuel filter.. The next two pictures show the distributor after refitting:

As you can see, the engine has not moved at all, but now my rotor arm is pointing in a completely different direction, once it has mated with the drive. To get the rotor arm anywhere near where it was, I have to turn it anti-clockwise by two teeth on the gears, but then obviously it does not line up with the drive, and therefore the distributor will not go down as far as is needed.

As I said before, I have had the distributor off a few times before, so am a bit stumped as to what I could have done :? :? :?

Ideas anyone???

 

[codekiddie]

OK, OK. I found out the issue. I hadn't had enough caffeine in my system :shock: :shock: :shock:

Went back in, and realised the oil pump drive must have moved round a bit when I remove the distributor, so turned it a bit anti-clockwise, and now all is good again. Note to self, at least three cups of coffee required BEFORE doing any work on the car

 

[arthuy]

I think that is normal because of the way the gear mesh with each other.

I think the manual tells you it has to be 30* from where you want it to be when refitting.

So long as you get it roughly right and the rotor lines up with no1 on the cap it will work out ok. Obviously the distributor needs to be able to rotate to be able to adjust the timing.

Colin

edit: my reply over lapped your second message, the dizzy can confuse the best of us glad you got it sorted.