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MG TD TF 1500 - stuck dizzy

Trying to set dynamic timing using variable light for first time. Dizzy bolt has been loosened but dizzy just won't turn. It's stuck. I don't want to force it. Any tricks here? It's probably been untouched for years.
Ed
efh Haskell

They are fragile things, these Mazak castings, and can easily be distorted or broken, so be careful. My experience is to get it to move even the slightest bit, and then it's free. I go as low on the distributor as I can with a wooden dowel and hammer, then tap on a raised part to try to turn it. How hard varies with how stuck it is!

If it's been that long, send it to Jeff Schlemmer at Advanced Distributor, and get him to rebuild it for you - chances are the advance is out of whack anyway.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Ed - If you have a later engine with the single bolt into the block with a cut out for the distributor to fit through, tap the end of the bolt after loosening the nut to see if that loosens it's grip on the distributor. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Ed,
Are you sure you need to move it? Have you checked it with a regular timing light? You may want to just pull the plugs, hook up an ohm meter across the points, (or rely on regular timing light) and roll the crank mark back and forth under the pointer to see how close they open at Top Dead Center. I use the fan to move the crank (sometime push on the belt to eliminate slipping).
Sometimes better to leave a sleeping dog lie.

JRN JIM

Ed if it is the early type loosen the lock bolt 433-530, it should not need to be loosened, but sometimes it does pinch the distributor housing.
Len Fanelli

Ed

If you are contemplating totally removing the dizzy, prior to removal, rotate the engine so it is on the timing marks for No1 pot to fire and mark where the rotor button is facing on the body, it will make refitting the dizzy in the correct orientation easier.

Graeme
G Evans

Ed,

Make up a 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone and brush it around the base of the distributor for several hours, then use Tom Lange's wooden dowel tapping method. It should come out reasonably easy.

Gene
Gene Gillam

ATF? (Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms)?
Okay, I give, what is ATF Gene?
Ed
efh Haskell

Automatic transmission fluid
Len Fanelli

Marvel Mystery Oil and Acetone also works well.
David
D. Sander

This thread was discussed on 16/08/2014

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