John -
The bad rotors are the cheapo ones with no counterweight.
If you have one with a counterweight, it's probably a good one. Note
that www.cape-international.com sells original style lucas-copy
rotors... they are VERY nice quality rotors.
Cheers,
Alan
'53 BN1 '64 BJ8
On 6/9/05, John Soderling <jsoderling@astound.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> A friend's BN4 (which I help maintain) recently experienced a rotor failure
> that created a significant mess - the drive rivet holding the brass contact
> came out, fell down under the distributor plate between the shaft and the
> distributor body, seizing the distributor body, spun it 180 degrees (pinch
> bolt clamp didn't hold it) and ripped all the plug and coil wires out as the
> engine died. A mess to fix and then retime. In replacing the rotor, I
> noticed I had two types of spare after-market rotors. These two things got me
> interested in investigating rotors.
>
> There has been a lot of discussion on this list in the past few years about
> the poor quality of the available after-market rotors for our Healeys. After
> reviewing the archives, I'm not sure there is any consensus on which of
> several types/brands of rotors currently being sold is better. Apparently the
> OEM rotor's method of securing the brass conducting contact was via a 1/4"
> hole in the contact through which the bakelite spread flush with the brass'
> top surface during molding, and the bakelite also slightly lapped the outside
> edges of the brass. The current after-market rotors I have have the brass
> conductor attached using a drive rivet.
>
> Of my two spares, one rotor has a base material counter weight extending
> opposite the brass contact extension and came with a "made in Italy" sticker.
> The other has no counter weight, a flat metal spring molded in the back of the
> shaft hole to insure a firm fit and no indication where it was made.
>
> Is anyone on the list familiar with these two types of after-market rotors,
> and have any opinions on which is better and why? Is there a better rotor
> than either of these currently available from the usual suppliers? Thanks in
> advance.
>
> Vrooom vrooom,
> John
> 100-Six Erika the Red
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