distributor questions

rfix'n · 08-25-2001, 01:37 PM

I've taken it apart down to the advance mechanism. The arm that comes out of the vacume (bell shaped) housing only moves about 1.5 - 2mm, when seperated from the distributor. Is the the correct range of motion? It seems it should move further as the range of motion on the point it attaches to is much greater, when detached.

There are two springs on the advance mechanism. The smaller of the two is fairly loose when the assembly is closed. When it is spread apart there is tension on the spring. Is the looseness an issue?

I have also tested the resistance between the two prongs the green wire (trigger) attaches two. In the distributor these have 600 ohms.

Per the Permutune site, I have a stock unit, the resistance between pins 3 & 6 on the harness should read 600 ohms. Mine has no resistance (as if leads were touched together)even with the dizzy out.

My green wire looks to be in good shape, the plug on the harness side is a different story. Short of tearing apart the harness I'm going to have to try and get some electrical tape over some exposed wire.

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Rob Fix
'78 SC Targa

[This message has been edited by robfix (edited 08-25-2001).]

Early_S_Man · 08-25-2001, 02:01 PM

Rob,

I haven't looked at the Perma-Tune site recently, but I believe there has been some cofusion on this site about where the 600 Ohm measurement should be...

Your pickup coil in the distributor is fine! The question now, is, does the 600 Ohm measurement appear at the 6-pin connector of the wiring harness, as it sits, pulled off the CDI-unit, for testing purposes? Not at the pins of your CDI-unit! Continuity through the connector and fragile cable is what is being determined.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

rfix'n · 08-25-2001, 02:26 PM

I was testing on the harness side, not on the CDI pins themselves.

I've got a bigger problem now in that on reassembly I lost a small pin that fit in the goove on the shaft and held a star shaped object (not sure what this is) in place. Probally should not have attempted this myself but I didn't want to shell out $800 for a new disributor.

Early_S_Man · 08-25-2001, 04:56 PM

Rob,

Sorry about the pin/clip !

The star-shaped object is the reluctor ...that generates the variable magnetic field, that generates the waveform in the trigger coil for the CDI-unit!

If you aren't getting continuity through the wiring harness to the 600 Ohms in the distributor pickup coil, then either the connector or the damaged green wire in the engine wiring harness is the culprit! Check for continuity from two-pin connector to the six-pin connector.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

broseed · broseed's Garage

Hi robfix,

Just FYI - if you do need to buy a new distributor, I highly recommend buying from Vertex auto (no association - just satisfied customer) - i purchased a new OEM Bosch distributor about 2 months ago w/overnight shipping for just under $500 for my '81SC (not sure if your SC will use the same one).

Their number is 305.442.2727
www.**********.com

-Dylan

hmm - their website is not currently working, but i called the number and they seem to still be around...

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Dylan Essner
1981 SC
PCA - GGR

[This message has been edited by broseed (edited 08-25-2001).]

rfix'n · 08-25-2001, 06:34 PM

Found the pin! I'm getting 700 ohms between 3&6 on the harness as well. Spark is still yellow so I'm thinking about a new coil.

My timing checks out at idle but I'm at 28 degrees advance at 6000 rpm.

Thanks Warren for giving me a name for the reluctor. Does that serve the same function as points?

Early_S_Man · 08-25-2001, 07:08 PM

Rob,

Yep ... it should have been called 'Magnetic Points!'

If you see 700 Ohms at the CDI-unit, that means there is 100 Ohms EXTRA RESISTANCE IN THE CABLE OR CONNECTOR?CONNECTION! Not an acceptable ... when you consider it shouldn't be more than 1.0 Ohm! Sounds like corrosion at a crimped solderless connector at the green cable 2-pin connector, or on the CDI-unit cable spade connectors inside the 6-pin connector!

Your coil may not be the problem ... check the primary for 0.4-0.6 Ohm resistance, and the secondary for 650-790 Ohm resistance.
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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 08-25-2001).]

Roland Kunz · 08-27-2001, 12:07 PM

Hello

Don´t forget to center the system. Just use roll o,1 mm feeler gauge and roll it inbetween the fingers and the stator. Then tight it down.

Grüsse

Early_S_Man · 08-27-2001, 12:47 PM

Rob,

Come to think of it ... Chrysler specifies a brass feeler gauge to set the spacing between reluctor and pickup coil when installing a new magnetic pickup, and replacement kits used to have the brass feeler gauge in them! But, I'm sure Lisle or other specialty tool companies sell the separate gauge.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

rfix'n · 08-27-2001, 02:03 PM

I'm not sure there is any way to adjust the reluctor. It sits on top of a snap ring, secured with another snap ring on top of it. The snap rings fit into a groove on the shaft.

I do now have 600ohms on pins 3&6 of the harness. The coil also checks out. I'm going to benchtest the CDI next, can I use the test on the Permutune website for my Bosch CDI?