[Zmagnette] Timing

Thu Feb 6 12:36:47 MST 2014

I have Schlemmerized distributors (advanceddistributors.com) with Pertronix in five MGs. No problems so far. I do carry points in case of catastrophic failure on the road. Rodger

-----Original Message-----
From: Google Apps Email <steve at betterwitnesses.com>
To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America <zmagnette at autox.team.net>
Sent: Thu, Feb 6, 2014 12:32 pm
Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Timing

Schlemmerized dizzies are way better than Pertronix any day...

Points you can fix on the road, Pertronix you can't.

Steve H

On Feb 6, 2014, at 11:28 AM, John Perkins <zamagnette at charter.net> wrote:

Ken:
          I got my ZA because the guy I bought it from failed to      diagnose a worn out distributor.  The original distributor had a      cam that would only open the points on a couple of the lobes, the      shaft was wobbly in the housing, the mechanical advance was rusty      and would not operate smoothly, finally the vacuum advance      diaphragm was leaking.  Your issues might be just a distributor      that needs to be rebuilt.  Send it to Jeff Schlemmer and let him      Schlemmerize it for you.  He's done two for me with excellent      results.
          John Perkins

      On 2/6/2014 12:59 PM, Ken Beisser wrote:

Thanks all, I appreciate all the advice.  
          I drive the car about 10 miles a day so that's less than 1000          miles in 4 months.

I'll look at the distributor parts again.
          The parts ie cap/points/plugs/condenser/wiring are pretty new          but there's obviously something wrong.

The distributor is original on a rebuilt engine.

The electronic distributor is appealing, but it sounds like          it may not be my problem right now.

Ken B

On Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 7:01 AM, Steven          Trovato <strovato at optonline.net>          wrote:

              You can argue the merits of points vs electronic ignition              all you              want.  Fact is, what Wombat said is correct.  The way most              of              us use our cars, it is not normal to require timing              adjustment every 4              months.  The rule I remember from when all cars had points              and              carburetors, was to do a full tune up every 10K miles, and              a              "minor" tune up every 5K miles.  The full tune up was              plugs, points, condenser, adjust timing, dwell and carb              mixture.               Maybe replace the rotor and cap.  The minor tune up was to              basically              do the same stuff, but without replacing any parts.  You              would just              clean and readjust what was there, unless something looked              really              terrible.  This was not an MG thing, these were just the              rules I              learned for typical American cars of the day.  In my              experience,              timing did not change a lot. As Wombat said, wear at the              points may              require adjustment over time.  Timing on my Magnette stays              pretty              stable.  This is with 1500 engine and original points              setup.               If the distributor is tightened so that you can't turn the              body with your              hand, then that's not the problem.  Overtightening just              causes more              problems.  I would take a look at the points.  If they are              secure, I would look at their condition.  Poor quality              parts might              wear faster.  Also, a bad condenser can cause the points              to wear              faster.  

              -Steve T.              

                At 08:52 AM 2/6/2014, charles durning wrote:

X2 on getting rid of the                  points.  

                  I know, I know the purists will poo poo the change to                  electronic                  ignition.  I say let them keep their points.

                  Charlie Durning

                  If you are using Google or Gmail, Big                    Brother is                    watching.

                  On Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 5:01 AM, Wayne & Isabel                  Hardy                  <gwhardy at suddenlink.net                  > wrote:

No t normal!! Should stay as set for years                      literally, if tightened up                      properly at the pinch neck bolt.

Slight wear at the points may require a very                      small adjustment over                      time, but only if driven enough to cause the                      points to erode... A lot of                      driving usually.

Wombat                    

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