[Healeys] Swapping distributors

[john harper]

I have an interesting story along the same lines where a distributor worked
loose and jumped out of mesh. This had an early single bolt fixing to the
block and these were prone to slipping.

The timing was therefore completely out and I needed to get the
distributor lining up with the number one cylinder. I then used an old
trick to get the engine on TDC on the compression stroke. The trick is to
remove the spark plug from the number one cylinder and place the thumb over
the hole. After a few attempts engaging the starter it was possible to
judge when to stop cranking on the compression stroke. After replacing the
plug and making sure that the distributor rotor was pointing at the correct
plug lead the distributor was replaced: allowing for the spiral action
as it was inserted. Fortunately, the engine then started and approximately
the correct timing was managed by turning to get the best idle.

This got me home

All the best

On Thu, 15 Jun 2023 at 12:11, Simon Lachlan via Healeys <
healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

> You may recall that I asked if there was an easy method of swapping
> distributors ie doing it at the roadside without being overly troubled by
> timing issues.
>
> Replies varied.
>
> In the end, I bought another base plate which I put onto my spare Lucas
> (points).
>
> I marked the base plate of the 123 and the top of the turret upon which it
> sat. ie so there was a datum(?) point to which to return. Used a Dremel.
>
> I did the same for the Lucas after getting it timed. I made the marks on
> the other side ie to the left of the distributor.
>
> I removed the Lucas, located the 123 back on its mark and, hey presto, it
> works.
>
>
>
> One surprise…in my ignorance, I thought that, if the 123’s rotor arm faced
> at, say, 12 o’clock, then so would the Lucas’. Both could only align one
> way with their gears’ physical connection to the turret upon which they
> sit?? Well, yes, the gears could only align identically but the rotor arms
> were about 30° out. ie  123’s at 12 o’clock and the Lucas’ at +/- 2
> o’clock. Both are working at 15°/idle…….Who’d have guessed it?
>
>
>
> One other thing…..I was going to put my Pertronix back into the Lucas.
> Can’t have two electronic ignitions fail in one day, can you? However, it
> seems that I’d put points back in because I’d lost the collar (“magnetic
> ring”). Actually, I forget what I did, but it’s gone anyhow. Like my memory
> perhaps. My unit is marked LU-165. I don’t suppose anyone has a spare one??
>
> Simon
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