PJR Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Good afternoon all It's been a while since I tinkered!! Now, being the proud owner of a TR6 (purchased August 2018) I'm starting to do some little "jobs" There is a clicking sound coming from inside the distributor cap - upon removing it I see something new to me; under the rotor arm there is a 6 blade fan; what is this? The car is not fule injected anymore, it has triple webers - is that significant? Should I replace the distributor to what I would call a standard, rotor arm only unit? Thoughts and ideas please Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Hi Peter that sounds like the optical interruptor of a lumenition optronic electronic ignition system its a black six bladed rotor my care came to ke with the same, worked fine. hth steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bob-menhennett Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Peter , Methinks that you have "electronic " ignition fitted and I'm guessing Lumenition. Steve's just beaten me to it ! Revington lists 4 electronic kits for the TR6 https://www.revingtontr.com/electrical/engine-electrics/electronic-ignition If you've got any paperwork with your car it might be worth checking the invoices for confirmation. Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PJR Posted March 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Thanks folks for the info. - does this mean that the rotor arm isn't needed and also; what is the clicking noise?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Triumph Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 The rotor arm is still needed. The electronic ignition could be Lumenition or perhaps Newtronic/Piranha (which are the same). The clicking could be that the interruptor plate (the fan you refer to) is sitting too high. Usually these are a press fit over the old contact breaker cam. Try pushing the plate downwards on the distributor shaft, it may help. Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 if the chopper is fouling the optical switch you will usually see evidence of some markings on each blade. difficult to be certain of the cause of your clicking without closer inspection - perhaps sharing a video with sound would help. ...... Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Ps, i think i have an old but working ‘spare’ lumenition in the garage somewhere if you need spare parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PJR Posted March 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Brilliant guys - gives me some things to "fiddle" with tomorrow Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PJR Posted March 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 And...........are the points still an integral part of the firing/ignition system?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 all electronic ignition systems I am aware of dispense with points...... Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 30 minutes ago, AndyR100 said: all electronic ignition systems I am aware of dispense with points...... Andy Didnt ‘sparkrite’ or similar make a ‘points assist’ ignition system back in the 1980s.... kept the points but took virtually all the electrical load off them, probably a CDI system back in the day i ran a car spares shop .. steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Triumph Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 (edited) Any electronic ignition from the last 20-30 years is going to be pointless. Not like that awful tv show, but the ignition won't need contact breakers! Nigel Edited March 14, 2020 by Nigel Triumph Typo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Steves_TR6 said: Didnt ‘sparkrite’ or similar make a ‘points assist’ ignition system back in the 1980s.... kept the points but took virtually all the electrical load off them, probably a CDI system back in the day i ran a car spares shop .. steve I think you are right Steve..... although I doubt there are many survivors still in play. ..... Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PJR Posted March 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 Yes - Luminition system is installed. I only asked about the points as they are still there in the distributor I shall do some more checking and thanks all for the comments Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 The mountings for electronic ignition modules will usually use those originally Holding points/condenser so rather surprising that they are still in there. A photograph or two would probably help clarify. ...... Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 49 minutes ago, PJR said: I only asked about the points as they are still there in the distributor That sounds odd. Surely the points have to be removed to enable the photodetector to be fitted for the Lumenition system? http://autocar-electrical.co.uk/images/pdf/pdf_optronic/fitting_kits/FK116-installation.pdf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerrytr5 Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 No way can you retain points along with Luminition optical switch and chopper. No physical room. Jerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PJR Posted March 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 Sorry folks - in my haste I wasn't paying attention - no points!! Now, checking the timing - any suggestions?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Triumph Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 Try 11 deg BTDC at tickover then optimise by road testing. If the engine pinks under load, retard slightly. If there's no pinking, try a little more advance until it just pinks then back off a fraction. The optimum setting depends on engine condition and fuel octane. My CP series runs best at 12 deg BTDC, using 99 octane Tesco Momentum fuel. Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuartG Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 Sparkrite ignition with points is still available and I fitted one 2 years ago after my "reliable electronic ignition" conked out on the M40 leaving me stranded ...... Luckily I had points with me to get me going again. The Sparkrite allows you to change back to points using a switch on the unit. http://www.accuspark.co.uk/sparkrite.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 When timing be aware that the timing marks can slip, mine were 8degrees out ! so set to 11 and adjust for best results, or set to true TDC and check timings marks align correctly first. steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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