K-Jet 16v New Distributor just fitted - trouble lining up timing marks!

[Jameslloydrichards]

So, I've just fitted a new distributor to my valver. All good, ignition leads in the right place, fires up and runs

BUT I've just tried to time it, using a gunson strobe. and am trying to line up the notch on the gearbox housing with the 6 degree before TDC mark, which I marked as indicated on another forum, have disconnected the red lead to coil.  However the only way I can get the gearbox mark and the 6 degree before tdc to line up, is to turn the distributor (when you are looking at it in front of you, so looking at it from the passenger side front wing), all the way round clockwise, even then I can't turn the distributor far enough clockwise to get them to line up spot on.

Cambelt was done about two years ago and its run fine ever since.  Has anyone got any ideas?  FYI when I disconnected the red lead to the coil, and had the distributor in the same position as the last one, it runs lumpy and idles at about 750 rpm, however much you undo the idle screw.

I'm stumped, pure and simple! Have I missed something, just can't be right that you have to turn the distributor all the way clockwise, and it still doesn't line up, I would have thought the distributor should sit about half way round in it's available travel. Just took it for a drive and it seems to have plenty of power.

Cheers,


James

[Horney]

have you put the dizzy on 180 Deg out?

nick

[Jameslloydrichards]

Cheers for ths swift reply nick. All this is looking at the dizzy from the passenger side with the dizzy in front of you. The Hall sender connection is at the bottom, and at TDC when the engine is off, the rotor arm is pointing to 11 o'clock.  So I think I've put it on o.k. But if it's on upside down, I'm pretty embarassed, but that would explain the problem!!

[Horney]

I'm not even sure you can put them on 180 Deg out but your symptoms sound like that's the problem. I've done it a couple of times on classic minis.

Nick

[Jameslloydrichards]

Well I'm stumped really, not a mechanical expert, but I've followed the guides on the forum I think. I guess I could take it to a garage and get them to check it our, I'd rather not though!!

I would have thought if I'd put the distributor on the wrong way round, then the car wouldn't start at all, but of course I'm not sure.

[Horney]

There's no harm in whipping it off and spinning it round 180Deg and trying again.

nick

[Jameslloydrichards]

have checked and it's defo on the right way round with the hall sender at the bottom left, front of the car, when you are looking at it.  Spinning it through 180 would lead to the hall sender being at the top right, towards the back of the car. Checked a few pictures of other valvers and I'm 99.9% sure it's the right way round

Any chance it could be a fault with the dizzy? It was a recon one from GSF.

[Horney]

Did you move the engine with the dizzy off though? THe location of the dizzy is relative to the camshaft not the physical engine and bay. Take the dizzy off but turn the shaft inside 180Deg and see if it'll go back on.

Either that or pop the spark plug out of number one and using a screwdriver check that when number 1 is at TDC that the rotary arm is pointing at the number one lead.

Nick

[Jameslloydrichards]

Fair enough, I'll give that a go, prob tomorrow morning as its getting dark now. Just one question, if I do that, I assume I'll need to swap all the ignition leads around.

[Horney]

No because your just rotating the shaft half way round then putting the body back on as it was before. The leads will still be in the correct position (assuming they were in the first place.).

nick