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MG TD TF 1500 - plug wiring sequence mgtf

Restoring 54 mgtf. Cut old cracked spark plug wires off distributor cap last year, just got new ones to put on now, and can't remember which wire goes to which plug. Plugs from from of the car going back are cylinders 2,4,3,& 1. Distributor cap wire closest to the front of car and closest to engine is A, closest to rear of car and closest to engine is B, closest to rear of car and furthest from engine is C, and closest to front of car and furthest from engine is D. What connects to what? Is there a diagram I can refer to?
Ed Eastman
Ed Eastman

The firing order is 1-3-4-2, with cylinder number one being the one closest to the radiator.

Here's how you figure out what goes where:
Set your crankshaft so that the timing pointer is at TDC. Take off the valve cover and try and wiggle the rocker arms on cylinder number 1. If #1 is on the firing stroke, those rockers will feel a little loose. The ones on #4 should feel tight. If #4's are loose and 1's are tight, then four is firing and you need to turn the crankshaft one full revolution (so that the pointer once again lines up with TDC).

Now, take the cap off and observe where the rotor is pointing. The connection on the cap to which it points will be the one that connects to cylinder 1. Then just follow the firing order, remembering that the distributor rotates COUNTER-clockwise. So if #1 is at the 10:00 o'clock position on the distributor cap, #3 will be at 7:00, #4 will be at 4:00, and #2 will be at 1:00.

Once you learn this technique, you can ALWAYS figure out which wires go where.

HTH!
Rob Edwards

If you're simply replacing the wires on an engine that runs and you forgot where #1 is, 1)determine which way the distributer rotor turns, 2) plug the wires into the distributer cap starting anywhere in the 1 3 4 2 order. Try it. If it doesn't start move all the wires one hole around and try again. By the third move it should start.
tom

This thread was discussed between 20/11/2006 and 21/11/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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