Stuck distributor

chips01 · Post by **chips01** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 8:29 pm

Well, this car never stops amazing me and how much of a fight she can put up to stop me renovating her. I was going to run a strobe light to check the ignition timing. Set strobe up and slackened distributor hold down clamp. Check to make sure it could be rotated. NO the bloody thing is seized solid and will not move. Is there anyone on here who has had the unfortunate stuck distributor situation?

rebel alliance · Post by **rebel alliance** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 9:06 pm

Common problem from what i'v read..pour a bit of diesel around the base and leave for a day of two

Post by **scimitargtc** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 9:08 pm

Yup, it is a struggle but it will come out,, does the dizzie shaft stay put when you twist the body (wither cap off) last resort I can think of is to drain the oil remove the sump take off the oil pump and pencil drive and gently tap it out from underneath,,,if you then need a replacement dizzie I believe I have a couple lying around inc a brand new AccuSpark one

chips01 · Post by **chips01** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 9:20 pm

Well what can I say. Many thanks for your comments. Never ceases to amaze me the number of quirky problems that keep getting thrown up. I am still here and will not be beaten.

Post by **scimitargtc** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 9:23 pm

Rereading your problem it seems 5he dizzie won’t rotate, then that being the case suggest the clamp bolt (3mm) is not slackened sufficiently

chips01 · Post by **chips01** » Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:45 pm

scimitargtc wrote: ↑
Sat Apr 13, 2019 9:23 pm
Rereading your problem it seems 5he dizzie won’t rotate, then that being the case suggest the clamp bolt (3mm) is not slackened sufficiently

No the clamp bolt is loose and the clamp plate is free and moving easily.

Post by **scimitargtc** » Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:54 pm

But the dizzie won’t rotate? But the car runs.... others will have more wisdom but it has to be catching on something

Post by **scimjim** » Mon Apr 15, 2019 10:04 pm

Alloy dizzy in a steel block - if it’s not lubricated and occasionally moved, it’ll sieze. Persistence, patience and penetrating fluid to start with - heat and aggression if that doesn’t work

Post by **scimitargtc** » Mon Apr 15, 2019 10:10 pm

Perseverance then,, and last 2 options being drop the oil/sump oil pump pencil drive and whack it out from underneath or final last gasp effort wreck it all from above with an electric drill around the ally dizzie and fish the bits out... yo can see Y wife and kids nickname me bodgit and scarper... as long as it passes the “am prepared to let my wife go out in the car” safety check I’m happy

rebel alliance · Post by **rebel alliance** » Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:04 am

So is the timing actually out ?

chips01 · Post by **chips01** » Tue Apr 16, 2019 7:04 am

rebel alliance wrote: ↑
Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:04 am
So is the timing actually out ?

My own stupid fault really. Car runs fine but I wanted to check that the timing was correct so highlighted timing mark and was going to check static timing first when I found the problem. BUT I could have left it and carried on but NO because it is wrong I have to fix it. Been soaking with wd40 and have access to the block rh side of dizzie so will bang heat on it. Have a feeling there is a new dizzie on the horizon.

chips01 · Post by **chips01** » Tue Apr 16, 2019 7:06 am

scimitargtc wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:54 pm
But the dizzie won’t rotate? But the car runs.... others will have more wisdom but it has to be catching on something

Only the dizzie body that is seized. Rest appears to be fine though may not be after I have loosened it.

Post by **Coupe Racing** » Tue Apr 16, 2019 7:19 am

If you drill it just consider where the swarf will go

ard126k · Post by **ard126k** » Tue Apr 16, 2019 2:27 pm

When I had this problem I got a crowbar under the wide part of the dist. body, resting on a nearby head bolt. Applied upward leverage and at the same time tapped gently on the other side of the dist.

Alex.

rebel alliance · Post by **rebel alliance** » Tue Apr 16, 2019 2:35 pm

Hrmmm its your car but if the timing is ok why go medieval on the poor dizzy.....never had one stick but i would forget wd40 try plus gas or diesel for a week or two then remove the vacuum unit and use a strap wrench to twist it back and forth once the engines nice and hot might help