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Distributor Cap Bush


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Hi,

 

Help and advice required.

 

My 1970 TR6 developed a misfire under load at 3500 revs that got worse that's not a blocked injector, unusually.

 

It has now become a non runner and I have no spark at the plug.

 

Tried normal things points etc still no spark. Just looked in the distributor cap and the bush that connects to the top of the rotor arm has regressed inside the insulator that surrounds it at it all looks very black as was the top of the rotor arm. I think this is my problem and have just seen that the bush and spring is available as a spare.

 

Does anyone know how to replace this as I prefer to repair parts where I can rather than replace. I may be wasting my time and be better off buying a new cap.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

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I have only done this on a daimler sp250 and that was just a push fit once I'd picked out the old carbon like centre and spring.

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Hi Dave,

it may be best to cut your loses and buy a new cap.

I too prefer to mend what I can but a dizzy cap is probably not worth the fuss.

 

Not sure where the best place is to buy one but stay clear of cheap ones. TR Shop, TRGB, Moss should all have good ones.

 

Roger

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Martin Jay (Distributor Doctor) told me some years ago that this carbon brush is a "maintenance item". When it has worn away, remove it and replace with new.

Remember, too, that in wearing away it deposits dust on the inside of the distributor cap. If not removed, this conductive dust will cause a short and the high tension, which should be going to the plugs, will disappear and the engine will die.

As part of the annual maintenance, the inside of the cap should be wiped clean.

Ian Cornish

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Martin Jay (Distributor Doctor) told me some years ago that this carbon brush is a "maintenance item". When it has worn away, remove it and replace with new...

Ya learn something new every day, Ian. I've never thought about replacing the brush on a distributor cap. The contacts have usually burned before the brush has worn anyway.

 

How does one get it out and back in? Who sells distributor cap brushes?

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Hamish is spot on!

I never thought about this until I hit the problem a few years ago.

In the "TR Basic Maintenance" pull-out which was included as a centrefold (pp39-46) in TR Action 273 (March 2014). Tony Sheach and I included advice about maintenance of the distributor.

I think you will find that the brush unscrews from the spring, but Martin will tell you.

Ian Cornish

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Push fit. You can even whittle your own replacement from the central rod from a zinc-carbon battery (assuming you can find one these days).

 

Saved our bacon in the African bush in the mid 80's. Read it in a Wilbur Smith novel and it actually worked!

 

Nick

They are in all the shops! Just a different name - Alkaline batteries are just ordinary batteries with a less damaging electrolyte and a (usually) leakproof enclosure.

 

Mike

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