[TR] Ignition question (and hello!)

[Malcolm]

Thanks all.  Chris, I will probably do this tomorrow.

I filed the points and set the gap today, the car runs a lot better.  Only
an occasional stumble on acceleration.  Also retuned the carbs (rear one
was running rich) and advanced the timing a lot.

I've also bought a new set of points and a condenser.

I'd like to buy a "better" coil, since mine is probably fifty years old.
 Does anyone have any recommendations?

M

On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 9:42 AM, Chris Simo <ccsimonsen at gmail.com> wrote:

> No harm in removing the two screws and pulling off your contact breaker
> plate. Make sure the weights move and the springs are intact.  If you have
> a mightyvac you should test your vac advance,  too. I recently had the
> rivet in a rotor come loose and was ground up into what looked like a small
> wad of steel wool.
> On Jul 16, 2012 5:06 AM, "Malcolm" <malcolm at ipatch.ca> wrote:
>
>> Hello list,
>>
>> It's been a very long time since I have sent a message to the team.netlist
>> Triumph.  Some of you may remember me!
>>
>> Anyway, I have now got enough time on my hands to tinker again with my
>> 1962
>> TR4.  Also, this year it is fifty years old, so I feel somewhat obligated
>> to pay attention to it.  I've got a bunch of new parts on it now,
>> including
>> a stainless exhaust and new tacho/speedo cables, and have been trying to
>> get it to run properly.
>>
>> I have fairly bad backfiring (through the carbs) under load when
>> accelerating.  I have balanced the carb inlets, the mixture seems OK, and
>> I've done the static timing.  I have new air filters (K&N) on order.  I
>> suspect that this is an ignition problem, though, and the Haynes manual is
>> dismal when it comes to troubleshooting the distributor.  Nearly every
>> test
>> involves "compare your stuff with new parts, and replace them if they are
>> worn out".
>>
>> My big question is: how much should I be able to rotate the distributor
>> rotor?  A little?  A lot?  15 degrees?  30?  Should it snap back to a
>> position at rest or just flop around?  I am trying to tell if the
>> centrifugal advance springs need replacement.
>>
>> Will the K&N filters require me to fiddle with the timing?  They are
>> 56-9327: http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?prod=56-9327
>>
>> Has anyone got glowing recommendations, or horror stories, for electronic
>> ignition?  I've been scouring the Web and so far have not found a clear
>> winner.  I could rebuild the points (a la Distributor Doctor, or Advanced
>> Distributors) - or get Petronix, Hot-Spark, or some other drop-in
>> electronic replacement.
>>
>> I am not building a concours car.  I want it to be reliable, running on
>> pump gas, with minimal roadside surprises.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> -Malcolm
>>
>> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
>>
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