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MG TD TF 1500 - New points

Ok..we installed new points this morning and I now have a 'tick/tick/tick/tick' at idle...it goes away at abour 1200 rpm. Engine runs very smooth both at idle and when revved. It is a faster tick then, say tappet noise(seems to be going twice as fast as the normal engine noise.
It was noted that the points spring was certainly firmer then the old one (it had been in for 20 years or more) and perhaps the extra tension on the distributor shaft is causing the 'tick'...It was not there before that I was aware of...anyone had anything similar happen? There is play in the shaft but not more then the mechanic has felt in any other?
gblawson

Did you also change rotor or cap. If so you might check to see if the rotor is hitting the cap. Possibly also could happen if rotor isn't seated all the way?

Dallas
Dallas Congleton

Have had the cap and rotor off quite a few times and have pressed it home each time...
Just noticed that the curve of the spring is a c.h. away from the back of the points...looked at the old spring and it didn't seem to have as flat an arc as the new ones..not sure if the spring hitting the points would make as loud a tick or not?
gblawson

Gordon, could you be hearing the pop/arc of a spark? Make sure you didn't partly pull the coil wire out of the cap (or the other wires too). You were smart to not pull your exhaust. You will first twist off the pipe-manifold studs. Next, you will break the 8MM manifold stud, or strip the head. Days later when the new parts arrive, one of the cast stud to manifold clamps will break when you give it the last little bit of tighten. I know these things! George
George Butz

Don't know, but if it is the new spring and it is firm enough to make a click when the points rubbing block comes off the cam lobe, then it will wear the rubbing block very fast.
Dallas Congleton

This is so weird...very loud ticking that totally goes away at 1300 rpm... the car runs great... we used a hose to listen to various parts of the engine and it seems to be coming from the distributor... all I can do is put the old points back in and see what happens? Not something I want to go to Gatlinburg with!
While we finished up the pan gasket and seals yesterday, I replaced all the pins in the clutch linkage...fairly worn. Also replaced the bushing on the pan stud...very out of round. While it was apart, I did the modification of the 'lever'...drilled a new hole 1/2" higher then stock and pushing the clutch now takes very little pressure...quite the difference.
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Ok... here is a photo of the points in place... that spring just doesn't look right to me?

http://gblandco.com/gb/dis.jpg
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Whoa! When those points open, the back of the rubbing block HAS to be hitting on the spring.

Cheers,
Lew Palmer
Lew Palmer

Oops, I meant the back of the points, not the rubbing block.
Lew Palmer

Gordon;
Change those points as you will not make it very far from Ontario if that far. The spring is wayy to short.
Sandy Sanders
Sandy Sanders

Thanks... certainly didn't look right to me! Hopefully they have another set....
Have been putting together a luggage rack and didn't need the extra hassle right now.....!
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Well... right out of a Lucas box...even the right part number and the spring was 1/4" too short...hence the position of the spring/points. Not sure if it was the actual points hitting the spring, or the increased 'load' on the shaft making the noises...however...it is now gone and the car is sounding great. - must mention that the 2nd set of points out of a plastic baggy had the little slot cut on the wrong side of the spring so was a lot of fun installing 'under' the little bolt instead of slipping over it...!!!! Good thing I have patience and small hands.
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Gordon,
Get a pertronix and you won't ever have to mess with it again! (IMHO)
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Gotta second Dave on that one, Pertronix is the way to go.
Good luck on your run to TN. Too far away from here in Boise!
Bob Doc
Robert Dougherty

The Pertronix will be the next item on my wish list...well, a new 1st/rev would be nice..., oh, and that supercharger... then there is the engine rebuild, and re-doing the underside of the frame...and of course the body work...and...
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Hi Gordon - glad you sorted the points - I've never seen a spring so short! Can I suggest you remove old spring from fibre block (unpeen long rivet)and replace the short spring with it. Use 8BA (or US equivalent) screw & nut in place of rivet - useful as a spare. Make sure head of screw clears cam and as we all use small type condensers ensure clearance on bracket there too - filing sometimes needed in my experience enabling different condensers to be used. If a loud click occurs again don't do what I once did in a TD, returning from of all things a hillclimb. I ignored what turned out to be a broken bob weight spring - the weights jammed and pin on drive pinion sheared followed a few seconds later by the sound of the pinion hitting the sump bottom !

I apologise if you were aware of all these aspects but it might be useful to someone out there in 'T land'.

Have a good trip - I'm sure you will.

Cheers John.
J.C Mitchell

Gulp!!!!!!! the sound of a pinion hitting the sump you say!!!!! Time to put on the headphones and turn up the Dixie Chicks and ignore all sounds!!!!!
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Gordon - any music would have been nice esp. as there was no radio fitted! Turned out OK - weather was fine(an event in itself!) we camped at a nearby house,were fed and watered, and given a lift towards home 70 odd miles away, on the Monday morning. By bus and hitching got back in afternoon with old but good spare distributor(those were the days!),retimed and drove home. Left the pinion in the sump for months ! no real harm done - just had to take a day's leave from an understanding employer.

Happy days,John.
J.C Mitchell

This thread was discussed between 12/06/2006 and 14/06/2006

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