Dizzy

[philheys100]

Hi Guys,

I am not getting a spark from my distributer; I am going to change all the contacts, condenser, rotor arm etc. I have attached it to the body of the car with a gasket and some gasket seal - my question is would this be sufficient for grounding the dizzy I have concerns that it was not ground enough hence the reason for no spark?

Many thanks in advance
Phil

[Davemate]

8401 wrote:

Hi Guys,

I am not getting a spark from my distributer;
I have attached it to the body of the car with a gasket and some gasket seal - my question is would this be sufficient for grounding the dizzy

Many thanks in advance
Phil

?

[drofgum]

Phil,
The normal studs and nuts along with the distributor clamp should earth the dizzy sufficiently.
Try grounding the wire that leads from the coil to the points, with the ignition switched on, while watching for a spark from the king lead. If that does give a spark , but no spark occurs when the points etc are in circuit, then there is certainly something wrong in the LT side of the dizzy.
                                                                                         Best of luck,
                                                                                         Paul

[philheys100]

Hi Dave,

What do you not understand?

The distributer needs to be earthed and I am wondering by putting gasket seal on the bottom of the distributer then attaching it to the engine may not be enough to earth the distributer, could that be the case?

Sorry if my first post was confusing?

Thanks

[dinger]

You do not need sealant at the base of the distributor .. clean it back to bare metal - the lower part of the distributor body should have an o ring seal which should be perfectly adequate .

[Velocita Rosso]

1317 wrote:

Phil,
The normal studs and nuts along with the distributor clamp should earth the dizzy sufficiently.
Try grounding the wire that leads from the coil to the points, with the ignition switched on, while watching for a spark from the king lead. If that does give a spark , but no spark occurs when the points etc are in circuit, then there is certainly something wrong in the LT side of the dizzy.
                                                                                         Best of luck,
                                                                                         Paul

Correct and there should be a gasket fitted

[philheys100]

Thanks Guys,

I have fitted the gasket, so do you think the sealent could be affecting the grounding of the distributer?

Thanks

[Paudman]

No, there’s more than enough metal to metal contact elsewhere to earth it sufficiently. Have a look at the earth strap on the backplate and see if it’s worn or disconnected. Remember however you want the spark to travel through the plugs, not through the dizzy body to earth.  

[Davemate]

8401 wrote:

Hi Dave,

What do you not understand?

The distributer needs to be earthed and I am wondering by putting gasket seal on the bottom of the distributer then attaching it to the engine may not be enough to earth the distributer, could that be the case?

Sorry if my first post was confusing?

Thanks

No that makes sense  :)
In you first post you said you had "attached it to the body of the car" and that didn't make sense