Need dizzy help FAST!!
 

Having never taken apart a distributor, I'm not sore what I'm looking at. I am installing the Crane optical set-up and need to know what all comes out of the distributor first. All of the lnfo I can find assumes some basic knowledge of what's in there, and I have none! Do I need to remove anything else? What is the metal thing with the ball bearing inside? Does that come out, or is it part of the vacuum advance?http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1124978325.jpg

i just did this on my 77 2.7. so far you are OK, don't take anything else out.
mount the bracket to the point plate, and then start fiddling with the optical "eye" bracket. FYI, your distributor rotates CW. be really careful with the trigger wheel...treat it very carefully, don't bend it or put side loading on it. if i can, i will try and take some pix of my install tonight. heck, if you want i can even lend you a distributor cap with a hole in it, for the final trigger alignment.

i didn't need to mess with the tach at all. i did find it took a few tries to get the trigger alignment right-on.

My dizzy is different than yours, but here is the basic idea of what you are going for.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125017050.jpg

wahoo,

From the presence of visible rust on the point plate ... I would say you need to remove the vacuum module, point plate, and disassemble the centrifugal advance mechanism and do further cleaning and degreasing with Brakleen or similar spray! The following thread has a Bosch exploded diagram showing major/minor parts and their relationships.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5432&highlight=distribu tor+lube

The thread also has full data for checking you distributor's advance curve after cleaning and lubing ... motor oil is all you will need, since you won't need grease for the points' rubbing block!

The ball bearing and spring-loaded cup are to provide downward tension on the point plate to prevent binding ... it needs to move freely so the vacuum module can control the point plate location over its' 10° range of motion ... in crank degrees.

Warren,
I'm wondering if you remember my previous thread about my car stranding me?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/233425-oh-man-tell-me-no-big-deal.html
I've reassembled the dizzy with the crane unit and replaced my cap and wires(new berus) but I still don't seem to be getting spark. Does it seem like I just need to monkey with the crane unit, or could there be another problem that had caused my problem?

wahoo,

Yes, I remember the earlier thread. Is the Crane optical trigger being connected to a Crane ignition unit or the original Bosch CDI unit?

If it is the Bosch unit, I suggest doing everything I suggested in this thread earlier tonight:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/237839-electrical-what-does-mean.html

I suggest testing the output of the Crane optical trigger unit by connecting a 12 Volt incandescent test lamp to + 12 Volts at the fuse block and to the output lead of the Crane. If the test lamp blinks on and off stteadily while cranking the engine over ... then the Crane trigger unit is working!

crane optical installation
 

wahoo-

if your crane unit is a newer one, it should have a red LED to indicate it is working. have you checked that? have you removed the coil wire from the cap and held it 1/4" from ground (using insulated pliers) while someone else cranks the engine, looking for spark?
attached are pix of my installation. maybe this helps you http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125053446.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125053466.jpg

Thanks for the info guys! I am using just the crane pickup with my stock CDI unit. Warren, I took the dizzy back out and cleaned it - much better! I also noticed that the Crane unit was keeping the advance mechanism from moving, so I am moving the pickup and trying again.