• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Bad Rotors

Share this page

bighly

bighly

Jedi Knight
Offline
Hey cousins!

The last few years Healey owners have been having excessive failures of ignition rotors on their 6 cyl cars. The culprit seems to be aftermarket rotors produced for Bosch.

I just found out that our cars (Austin Healey 3000 and TR6/250s) use the same ignition rotors.

Are you folks seeing similar rotor failures?
 
The Tinster just had one break yesterday on his TR6. You can see the photo in this thread.

Perhaps it was one of these bad rotors. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
I have heard from many owners at club shows and Jeff at Advanced Distributors that there is a lot of failed rotors lately. It seems that the pin comes out and causes a major shutdown or no start. I don't know of a specific brand that is causing the problem.
 
Here are photos from the Healey Guys
Rotors
There are two failures. Outright falling apart as your buddies did in the TR6. And shorting internally due to a crack between the rivet and the little seating plate underneath. The little rotor with no markings and the smooth top brass rivet is the culprit.
 
I have had a few Bosch units fail. Its not new either. They have been hit or miss for ten years or so. I usually buy two or at least have a spare handy. Though when one stays together after a few miles they seem to hold on for a while. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I have had a couple of Bosch units fail as well. I am a huge Bosch fan but when it comes to my rotors, Lucas only!!
 
I went through two in as many months. Now cary two spares in the boot.
 
My failed rotor was the Beru, Germany model.
Less than 20 minutes of use before it sheared
in half.

I put in my spare, an old Lucas that seems to be
working just fine.

tinster

regards,

D
 
I buy rotors by the half dozen from TRF. Still using the original one of six.
 
I recall having one break on me a few years ago. Similar break to Tinster's photo. When I worked on the distributor last year, I found the metal clip lying inside the housing.
 
Tinster, actually the rotor you have in your dizzy now is a NEW OEM brand unit that I sent you! I'd recognize it anywhere! Its the best on the market right now, and will not break, nor will the contact come loose! Its made out of a softer plastic, so it cannot crack, there's no metal clip that will allow it to short to ground, and the rivet is well placed outboard of the dizzy shaft.

I agree that the type with a rounded rivet will be short lived and many times the Neihoff replacements have a loose contact! I'm sure the "good" rotor is sold under a few brand names, so look for it! Its worth the $3-4 price!!!
 
Jeff, My bad totally!!

When I got your refurbished dizzy back, I thought it
still had the PO's rotor. Since everything with PO
fingerprints on it is worn out, broken down or halfassed,
I pitched your rotor in a box as a spare and ordered a
new one.

It was the new rotor that failed almost imediately.
It is YOUR quality rotor now spinning inside my
streetable, functioning TR6.

Thanks,

dale /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
No Problem, Dale! I throw all old rotors in a big box here and install a good one on virtually every dizzy I fix. Its cheap insurance against this exact sort of problem. They look like cheap generic rotors, but they sure last!
 
I'd venture to say that many of the failed parts we buy today are off-shore knockoffs (read: Chinese/Indian) that have made their way into the mainstream.

Several years ago I ran a local auto parts swap meet in my hometown. One of my vendors, a really nice guy, sold engine gaskets sets by the boatload...really cheap compared to regular part sources.

He always told me that they were genuine Fel-Pro or Victor-Reinz...the trouble is they came in unmarked "rebuilders" boxes. And, after a few years, his business kinda went down the drain as so many of his customers had problems with his products...mostly head gasket failures...on vehicles that had his stuff installed.

When you can buy a full engine gasket set for $30.00, and the good stuff is $100.00, I've learned to open my wallet a little wider.
 
As the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for". In most cases, it's true. On ebay let the buyer beware even more.
 
Jeff, don't know if you mentioned already or if in the other thread. What brand and source for the aforementioned buttons?
 
Sorry, I'm here. Just a bit slow these days! The rotors I use and sell are "OEM" brand, made in Italy. They are probably available under other brand names as well, but I don't know which. Don't make the mistake of buying the more expensive "Lucas" labeled parts which are off-shore knock-offs too. As far as I know, Worldwide Auto Parts and I are the only 2 companies that carry them?

Also, I believe that if you order Moss "Lucas" rotors or their aftermarket version, they are the same rotor in different packaging. At least they used to be.
Jeff
 
Back
Top