Magnetti Marelli distributor cleaning

[simonandjuliet]

Sorry to "invade" this thread but it got me thinking about the spare distributors on my shelf - if anyone wants an inexpensive distributor to convert (or have as a spare) please see my parts for sale advert on the Forum !

[andyps]

Just looked at your ad - quite a collection of distributors you have there but I've got a spare that looks similar to those so don't really need another.

Update on mine - the weekend didn't go to plan so I only got chance to work on it yesterday evening, I put earth straps I'd bought - one between the clutch bellhousing and one from battery earth to the bulkhead - they didn't seem to make much difference. I then removed the distributor, cleaned it all thoroughly but couldn't see anything wrong. I reassembled it, fitted the external condenser from Swiftune (thanks for the tip about it from Jaydub) and put the distributor back in. Result was a nice consistent spark at the points and then a good one at the plug I had out. It was 10pm by that point so a bit late to try firing it up but I'm a little more hopeful for when I get chance.

Stripping the distributor down and reassembly seemed to go OK, I was concerned about getting things wrong and messing up the timing but hopefully got it right!

[andyps]

Another update, it fired up reasonably easily tonight and ran better than it has previously so a much happier person now! I need to get the timing set right, can it be done with a strobe light? I'm assuming so but haven't read up about that yet.

Running also highlighted that there is a hole in the silencer so another item for the shopping list but I'm thinking I might manage the goal of driving it before the end of the year!

[nistri]

The strobe light is very useful to check timing since it averages out the difference between sparkplug #1 and #4. It is helpful to mark the /8 sign on the flywheel with white paint. Use a very short 13 mm spanner to undo the distributor nut, Andrea

[andyps]

The strobe light is very useful to check timing since it averages out the difference between sparkplug #1 and #4. It is helpful to mark the /8 sign on the flywheel with white paint. Use a very short 13 mm spanner to undo the distributor nut, Andrea

Thanks, I'll dig out my strobe light soon. I ordered a stubby 13mm spanner last night after once again struggling with the nut on the distributor clamp!