I have a wobbly dizzy....

[guzzul]

Sounds painful doesn't it?

I pulled the distributor on my Spit and I notice there is some 'play' in the top of the shaft. Holding the distributor in my hand, I can 'wobble' the top of the shaft, maybe 8-10 thousands.

This is a Lucas eletronic unit, and I also noticed there are some scuff marks on the reluctor where it has been touching the pickup. Not all the way around, and not deep scuffs, but about 1/3 of the circumference has obviously been touching pretty close to the pickup. Maybe there's a bit of wear in the shaft, and its wobbling a bit as it spins? Probably not good for performance.

Can this be fixed easily? I originally thought I would replace the Lucas guts with a Pertronix Ignitor, but now I'm wondering whether I should replace or rebuild the entire unit. Are these distributors relatively easy to rebuild?

 

[Brosky]

Or you can have a professional, who does only distributors, do it and check everything else at the same time like I did. Here is the pro: https://www.advanceddistributors.com/

And here is what he did with mine: https://www.74tr6.com/distributor.htm

Price will probably be pretty close to the same. Good luck!

 

[guzzul]

Yes, I thought it was a lot of play. It looks like it was wobbling enough at the top to close the air gap at the pickup - hence the marks on the rotating reluctor.

In the short term I have gapped it a little wider, but its not something I want to live with long term.

I have a '76 engine in my Spit, and the 45DE4 distributor.

I could pull it apart, I suppose. Is the 'bushing' you mention at the bottom of the shaft with the engine dog? Or is it in the body of the dizzy? Looking at the parts breakout diagrams I don't see any separate bushing so I'm thinking its in the body.

Thnx for your advice.

 

[aeronca65t]

8 to 10 thou is a lot.
Replacement units are not that expensive and I've seen them at swap meets for very cheap. If you posted under "wanted" in the classified section here, you could probably get one.

Some Spits use a Delco distributor (the '78 Spit engine in my Spridget came with one) but the more common Lucas 25D distributor will fit right in too (that's what I have now) You may have to modify the clamp that holds it in place.
And I'm sure you could just take it apart and have a local machine shop press in a new bushing (usually, the shaft is OK...it's the bushing that wears).

 

[guzzul]

I bought a rebuilt. But I may yet send this old one to Jeff.

Thnx.

 

[JeffS]

Sometimes the play is in the shaft bushing, but sometimes its in the advance assembly. The bushing can be replaced, and I have quite a few advance assemblies for your distributor if you decide to have it repaired. I'm glad you found something to get you rolling again!
Jeff

 

[guzzul]

Thanks Jeff. I am waiting for the rebuild to get here, and I was thinking I would then pull the old one and either tinker with it or send it to you to have a look at (or both).

I don't want to be without one, so in the short term I have just set my pickup gap a little wider and I'm using it. It works, but not that well I expect.

I will give you a call in a week or so. Cheers.