Section : Ignition and Distributers

Rotor Arm/Dizzy Cap Burn Out!!

Posted By : Maria Theresa Bullen, 03-Jul-2005, 07:37pm

• Rotor Arm/Dizzy Cap Burn Out!!

  Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 03-Jul-2005, 09:19pm

  I've had this problem myself and one of the solutions is to very very slightly shorten the Aldon collar on the distributor shaft, either that or shorten the rotor arm neck but then you have to get it to stay on! I've found that the plastic collar is too high which stops the rotor arm seating on the shaft, not to mention pressing it too high against the central electrode of the cap which causes it to break. File the collar down very gently and all should (hopefully) be well again... having said that there are also some woeful quality rotor arms on the go so go for the best you can get and try that, it might be a better fit.

  • Rotor Arm/Dizzy Cap Burn Out!!

    Posted By : William Davies, 03-Jul-2005, 10:22pm

    Don't bother paying a premium for a supposedly high quality rotor arm, they are all coming from the same source and being packaged (and priced) differently. Unless you can find genuine Lucas in the old style orange packaging (about 15 years old at least), buy the cheapest you can get and keep a few spares in hand.
    Cheers,
    Bill.

    • Rotor Arm/Dizzy Cap Burn Out!!

      Posted By : Leon Guyot, 04-Jul-2005, 00:26am

      I have had a lot of problems with Lucas Caps & Rotors on a Lucas 45D distributor with less than 15,000 miles on it. The caps were wearing out in under 2,000 miles. This is because they are (Unipart supplied) reproduction parts and in my experioence, the material that they are made from is of a far worse quality than the origianl items. Similarly, the modern reproduction rotor arms are a very poor copy.
      
      After sourcing expensive caps and rotors here in the USA, (not easy as U.S.Triumphs mostly use Delco), I determined that they were just as bad.
      
      I finally bought a Mallory Distributor, which has a very nice (copper electrodes) cap and rotor!
      This is the distributor intended for the Jaguar XJ6, because Mallory do not list one for the GT6/Vitesse, also they do not list one for the Spitfire, but they do list one for the MG Midget with 1500 engine that fits in Spitfires just fine.
      
      Good Luck!
      
      Léon

• Rotor Arm/Dizzy Cap Burn Out!!

  Posted By : Maria Theresa Bullen, 06-Jul-2005, 06:51pm

  Thanks for that folks
  
  I am aware tobe suspicious of repro stuff. Just so long as none of you have commented on any other electrical problem. i.e over-charging (I appologise for my lack of electrical terminology)
  
  So the answer is stock up and EBY 876J will take me to Stafford.
  
  Thanks to you all
  
  Maria

  • Rotor Arm/Dizzy Cap Burn Out!!

    Posted By : Mark Telkman, 06-Aug-2005, 07:18pm

    So I had a fun day at the side of the road...
    
    

    • Rotor Arm/Dizzy Cap Burn Out!!

      Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 07-Aug-2005, 11:00am

      Haven't you heard of SuperGlue? You could always run a competition for Stafford next year "Rebuild the rotor arm in the least moves".....