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MG MGA - Distributor Installation Problem


I have pulled my distributor a number of times over the winter. I have never had a problem reinstalling it until last night. For some reason, I can't get it to fully insert into the engine far enough to tighten it with the clamp. Furthermore, the end of the shaft (is that called the dog?) is not engaging (ie - the rotor can spin freely). I have tried turning the engine by hand to get a realignment but that has had no effect.

Any ideas?
Jeff Bennett

Jeff

You are aware that the dog is slightly offset so that it will only fit one way round?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Sometimes you have to loosen the 2 bolts that hold the plate under the dist down to get the dist to drop back in.


R J Brown


Steve - Believe me, I spent an hour spinning the darn thing around last night trying to get it to work.

RJ - I will try that but I have not had to do that in the past (as recent as a couple of days ago).

Thanks
Jeff Bennett

Jeff

Just checking!

Actually, I have had the same problem as RJ describes. For me it was while swapping between my old DM2 and a 45D4. The distributor shoulder diameters were very slightly different (45D4 fractionally greater and we are talking mere thousanths of an inch). I usually ended up having to remove the bracket and expanding its diameter by twisting a scewdriver in the adjustable gap. Eventually, I machined the distributor shoulder a smidge.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Just don't clamp it too tight or you will crack the body of the dizzy
dominic clancy

"Any ideas?"

Either more beer or less beer, depending on your situation.
Mark J Michalak

I'll try more beer.

What's weird is its not getting hung up on the clamp or at least it doesnt appear that way. It's just not seating all the way in.

I'll remove the clamp tonight, have a beer, fidgit with it, have another beer and try everything again.
Jeff Bennett

Jeff. After you remove the clamp, shine a light down the bore of the distributor housing and see if there is anything it it besides the distributor drive at the bottom. Also check the distributor housing for any burrs or corrosion build up. Ditto the distributor body where it fits into the distributor housing on the block.

Fit the clamp to the distributor while the distributor is off the car to make sure it is correctly sized. Then, install the distributor and clamp onto the engine and install and tighten the bolts for the clamp. If it was not properly tightened to the block, it is perfectly possible to knock off the alignment which can result in the problem you are having.

Les
Les Bengtson

Jeff,

You said that you loosened the two bolts as RJ mentioned, but I thought I would attach an image from the mga twin cam Service Memoranda. It does apply also to pushrod Distributor alignment.

Mick


Mick Anderson

Sorry to be so late to the party

I had the exact same problem last fall. I marked the correct location for the distributor and the mounting plate. Took the distributor out, and set it on the bench. Took out the 2 (?) bolts holding the mounting braket to the block. Attached the distributor to the mounting bracket in the correct position and put them both back on the car together. Leave off the cap so that you can get the dog in the groove.

Last thing I did was tell my kids to never take the distributor off

Good luck

from Boston to NYC
Go Sox

Russell
R Egge

Jeff,

Ensure that the pin that locates the dog on the end of the Distributor shaft is not protruding at all.


Mick


Mick Anderson

Jeff,

If you are still not sure where the interference problem is, you could try removing the distributor drive gear. With the gear out you would be able to see if the distributor drive dog is mating correctly with the off-set slot in the drive gear. Conversely, you could try inserting the distributor body into the engine block distributor hole w/o the drive gear in place. One of these two tests should give you an indication of where the interference issue is located.

Be sure to carefully read and follow Barney’s directions for installing and aligning the drive gear, http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/ignition/ig103.htm .

John
jjb Backman


Thanks everyone.

I pulled my Yankee hat on, cracked a beer and removed the mounting bracket. Cleaned the years of grime off of it. Spread it open a bit and seated the distributor into it. Then put it all back onto the car together. Beautiful.

The car is almost ready for its first drive in 15 years. If it would only stop snowing!

Thanks again for everyones help.
Jeff Bennett

Not only does this board bring A owners from around the workd together, it even bridges the Boston and New York baseball rivalry.


Go Sox
R Egge

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2008 and 28/03/2008

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