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MG TD TF 1500 - TF Distributor Alignment

The distributor on my TF is aligned so that the primary wire exit point is very close to the breather pipe. Comparing it with the Workshop Manual drawings, I suspect it might be180 degrees out. Can somebody enlighten me please?
John
John James

John,
If you have access the The Sacred Octagon magazines from the New England MGT Register, there is an article about this on page 18 of the June 2003 issue.

The "flat spot" on the distributor should face forward, with the low tension terminal facing the oil dipstick.

If the flat spot is against the block (e.g., if the terminal points away from the motor), supposedly, the tachometer reduction gearbox could swing down and ground out the terminal.

Greg
TF 6846 XPEG 797
Greg Van Hook

John,
From what Greg says here, the pic I just sent shows what I felt would be correct as well...or rather shows that mine was "incorrect" as I thought in the pic.
It is now as Greg describes. I must have read this in the SO ...but Greg had the "brain-cells" to remember where I read it!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Thanks Greg
I do have the NEMG T Register Restoration handbook, but no Sacred Octagens. My distributor must be almost 90 degrees out. The flat spot is facing towards the tacho drive. i.e the midpoint of the condenser is in the 7 o'clock position looking down on it when facing the engine. Now all I have to do is figure out how to reconfigure the distributor to reposition it!
John
John James

"Now all I have to do is figure out how to reconfigure the distributor to reposition it!"

Maybe you know how to install the distributor if not here's how.


Remove the spark plug for No. 1 cylinder and put your finger over the plug hole while you turn the engine over by hand. When you start to feel air pressure push against your finger, it means the cylinder is coming up on its compression stroke. With the engine on this compression stroke, turn the crankshaft around until the TDC mark on the harmonic balancer aligns with the timing pointer on the front of the engine. Install the distributor.
Install the distributor with the rotor pointing to the No. 1 cylinder spark plug wire socket.

Good luck,

Don
Don

Thanks Don
The W M is rather vague about the cotter pin/distributor stem interlock, and whether the distributor can be installed in more than one position. I need to move mine 90 degrees clockwise.
John
John James

There are two considerations for orienting the distributor. 1) The clips that hold the cap in place must be in a position that they can be undone and moved far enough back to get the cap off. 2) The terminal for the low tension lead must be positioned such that the tach drive gear box cannot contact it if it (the gearbox) becomes loose and swings over against the diatributor. This second item is quite important since it is not uncommon for the gearbox to become loose and swing against the terminsl, leaving the car dead on the road, or in the case of one of our members who didn't declutch when the TD engine stopped and just pulled onto the shoulder of the road. When he hit the rough shoulder, the gearbox bounced off of the terminal, the engine got spark and started, which ignited the gas that had accumulated in the muffler and proceded to literally blow the muffler right off of the car! The results are usually not as spectacular as that, but can leave you stranded until someone thinks to check that particular point. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

John, the distributor shaft is not keyed in the manner of MGA or MGB engines. You are free to locate the distributor at any angle that you wish, as long as you keep the timing correct. Rotate your engine so that the timimg pointer is aimed at the TDC notch. Look at the top of your cap and see where the spark plug wire for #1 cylinder is inserted. Now take off the cap and see where the rotor is pointed. It will either be pointed at the wire for #1 or #4. If it's pointed at #4 then I'd suggest that you rotate the engine one more revolution so that the rotor is pointed at the wire for #1.
Now loosen the distributor clamp nut. Watch the rotor as you slowly pull the distributor up toward you. You will see it rotate slightly as it comes up. Once you have it up about an inch you'll see that the rotor is free to turn as you wish. Turn the rotor about 90° and push the distributor back into position. The actual increments in which you can rotate the shaft are determined by the number of gears on the driven end of the distributor shaft. The rotor will now be pointed at someplace other than the plug wire for #1. However, all you need to do is to pull the plug wires out and reinsert them, making certain to keep the 1-3-4-2 sequence going CCW around the cap. After this you'll need to tweak the timing.
I hope I haven't confused you with this. There really is right or wrong in the orientation, it's just a matter of choice. A piece of tubing slipped over the LT terminal will protect it from the tachometer drive. Please feel free to contact me off-list if you'd like. Season's Greetings.
Bud Krueger

Thanks Bud
That is very clear. I will realign the distributor when I fit the pertronix Ignitor I have ordered from Skip Kelsey.
Merry Christmas
John
John James

John, you might want to take a look at
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~budkrueger/TDstuff.html and click on the Pertronix link. But remember that it's the installation for a negative ground system. Bud
Bud Krueger

Definitely orient correctly and/or cover the LT terminal. A friend's TC would not start. We checked voltages, changed the coil, points, cap, wires, used ether spray, checked the valve timing, compression, etc. The culprit- when cranked, the loose tach gear box would swing over and touch the LT terminal nut! As soon as the starter was released, it would fall back away. Boy, did we feel dumb!
George Butz

Bud,
Sent John a link to your "install page" with the pic I sent him. I had discused "off line" with him about the timing advance that worked so well on my TF. (and also a caution that your install was for Neg Ground.
Merry Christmas to all!!!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 21/12/2003 and 24/12/2003

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