[TR] TR6 Problem, TR4

[terryrs at comcast.net]

> The original design may actually have been just a tad weak in this area. If 
> you approximate the distance through the middle of the rotor, from the 
> contact arm to the center post of the distributor, I think it turns out to 
> be the shortest route to ground found anywhere in the high tension system 
> except for the actual plug tips. The other cars I've owned have been 
> arranged to make this distance much larger. 
> 
> IMO the popularity of Lucas Sports coils and other ignition "upgrades" just 
> aggravates the problem. Even the stock coil & points is capable of 
> generating more voltage than it takes to jump the combined plug gap and 
> rotor/cap gap; so effectively those two gaps limit system voltage no matter 
> how much the coil is capable of. But, if there is a problem with the plug 
> or plug wire; or if you run wider than stock plug gaps either intentionally 
> or by not resetting the gaps as often, then the voltage rises until it is 
> either limited by the coil/points capability or goes to ground somewhere 
> else. If it jumps the path through the rotor to the dizzy shaft, then it 
> will damage the plastic of the rotor, leaving a "carbon track" that will 
> conduct easier next time. Eventually it becomes the easiest path to ground 
> all the time, and the engine will no longer run at all. 

Randall, do I have in my notes that you once suggested using dieletric goop when mounting the rotor to confuse this tendancy to ground?
Terry