NO performance after 2800 rpms ??

cary · 12-26-2003, 04:51 PM

73 1.7 Fuel Injection

I've never seen anything like it. The car runs and starts fine. But there is nothing/ZERO after you go above 2800 rpms.

I found the ground strap broken on the distributor plate. The trigger points look like they're brand new.

Gas tank been pulled and cleaned out. New fuel filter.

I'm ordering new points, cap and breaker plate.

Anyone had this happen before ?

Ron Meier · 12-26-2003, 05:15 PM

If the dwell (point gap) is incorrect (to tight), this will happen.

DuckRyder · 12-26-2003, 05:38 PM

Does it have a rev-limiting rotor?

cary · 12-26-2003, 06:14 PM

Ron,
I'm thinking its way out of tune. I'm trying to remember what we did when we took the engine out.
Seems I only changed the plugs and hoses because it ran and started so good.

Robert,
Yes, it does ? Interesting thought too. Seems it sputters once as you pass 2800. Then nothing. I mean like theres nothing there. All you do is shift and go back up to 2800. So the car will do about 64 mph, max. Good deal for my 16 year old. LOL.

Thanks for the help. I just sent my order to PP. Points are shot. Cap is ugly. Rotor looks ok. That wire is broken on the plate in the dizzy. Vacuum seems ok in he dizzy.

So we'll give it a good tune up and see if it clears it up. But I'm guessing looking the points, Ron has it dead on.

DuckRyder · 12-26-2003, 06:20 PM

If the spring is weak in the rotor it will cause that. Try sticking a standard one in it or putting tape on the ground on tab on the rotor and see if that fixes it.

(had a BMW one do that)

Ron Meier · 06:02 AM

Rob is also correct - I don't use a rev-limiter rotor - Hmmmmmm - maybe that's why my '73 2 L...................., Uh anyway - if the spring is shot it will short the fire sooner that it should (sputter sputter, cough, cough).

914express · 12-27-2003, 07:15 AM

I've had some funny things like that happen with my valves mis-adjusted. Might want to give them a look.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Points are ugly, and the ground path for them is broken? I think you've found the culprit already... Fix those and see if that cures things. If you're waiting around with nothing to do, check the rest of the ignition system out and adjust the valves. Run a compression check while you're at it.

But I'll bet you'll find immense improvement with new properly-functioning points and a new breaker plate with an intact ground braid.

--DD

cary · 12-27-2003, 04:21 PM

I soldered the ground strap back together. Looks like its not the first time. I picked up a set of points at the local FLAPS. I'm going to give it a try tomorrow. Just finished putting the dizzy back together.

I'm pretty sure it is electrical. Because it so yes, then so no. It is so weird. You have all that pedal left, and theres nothing there.

Peter_Hinkle · 12-28-2003, 05:20 AM

I can tell you for certain that if you are running a high output ignition (MSD) or something this process happens alot faster than normal but it is basically the same thing. You will seem to have a normal running car up to a certain rpm and then you get nothing above that. I would bet that as soon as you replace those ignition parts you will be totally fine...peter

cary · 12-28-2003, 10:50 AM

Thanks Gents,

That was it. Runs like a champ. I going to slip the RevLimiter rotor back in to see if that had anything to do with it.

peter carroll · 12-28-2003, 04:41 PM

What is a rev-limiter rotor? Thanks

DuckRyder · 04:49 PM

The rev-limiting rotor has a spring loaded contact that shorts the rotor at a pre determined RPM.

They are problematic when old.

Even when new my experience has been that they are inconsistent.

Edit, Here is a picture from Pelican: