"New" DLM8 Distributor does not work proberly

[Kassi]

Hi,

I wanted to replace my DE8 distributor to a DLM8 one. I got it from an english guy in ebay from his "Vitesse project'. This distributor seems to have a wrong layout for my sd1 engine. There is an arrow on the outside of the distributor body showing into anticlockwise direction. Does anybody know the mind of this arrow? On my old distributor this arrow shows into clockwise direction.
When fitting this replacement distributor my engine made bad noises and was nearly broken. I found out, that the distributor finger when the ignition spark sounds shows not directly to the respective contact of the cylinder but is in-between two cylinders. This is absolutely horrible.

Please can anybody solve this problem?
Kind regards
Christof

[robinj66]

On my spare DLM8 the arrow is on the sticker on the side of the distributor body and it indicates a CLOCKWISE rotation. In any event the direction of rotation would be determined by your engine (it is driven off the camshaft unless it's a much later engine - can't be because you are replacing a "points" distributor) so it is unlikely that the distributor is turning the wrong way.

Have you checked to ensure that the bottom of the DLM8 shaft is the same as your original (ie, a slot).

The DE8 should be used with a 6-pin ballast resistor whereas I think the (later) DLM8 did not require on but instead uses a coil suitable for "electronic" ignition (ie, no ballast resistor).

Below is the wiring configuration for the DLM8 ( courtesy of a CRC member [JRV8]but posted on another forum)

Depending on the type of module the wiring will be :-

2 pin....outermost wh/black
inner white

3 pin .....pin 1 = wh/black
pin 2 = spare
pin 3 = white

White wire goes to the coil (+)
Wh/Blacks go to the coil (-)


Hope that helps:thumb:

[Kassi]

Hi,

thank you for your answer. Now I am sure, somebody has taken me to the cleaners(is this wording correct?).
Now I know the arrow on my distributor body indicates that this distributor is for anticlockwise operation and is not suitable for any Rover V8 engine. Moreover, somebody made modifications to this distributor, fitting the correct drive gear and axle for the Rover engine. Bad luck.
Good luck, that my engine is still alife.
To explain it again, the rotor arm, when the spark is initiated, shows in-between two cylinders, that means, sometimes the spark jumps to the wrong cylinder.

Kind regards
Christof

[jrv8]

Hi Christof,
The drive gears on the DE8 & the DLM8 are the same, so if you're using the correct gear the distributor should turn the correct direction.
It sounds like you may not have fitted it correctly to the engine.
There is a shoulder on the stem of the distributor , and when it's fitted correctly, this should touch the timing cover. If it does not, and there is a gap, then you have not engaged the oil pump drive.... so no oil pressure and the rotor will sit between two contacts.
If it is fitted correctly, try this test. turn the rotor arm clockwise and let it go.....it should spring back into place. If it doesn't, there is a problem with the balance weights.
A picture of your distributor might help to identify it. or even the full numeric code would help.
Have you tried turning the distributor body round to line up the rotor arm , and correctly timed it ?
Regards
Jim

[Kassi]

Hi Jim,

yes, I made a rough adjustment, before starting the engine. I tried it three times always going back to my old de8 and trying that the motor is still running normally. There was never a problem with the de8 fitted. The shoulder did always touch the timing cover for the dlm8 also.
I was never in doubt, that the distributor was turning in the clockwise direction. The question is, why does the arrow shows in anticlockwise direction. Because there are two differnt distributor bodies, recognisable by the arrow direction, there should be a difference between this two layouts of distributor bodies, which causes the problem.
I'm not sure which meaning this arrow has, this is what I wanted to find out with my thread. If there is no agreement about this arrow, than I can't solve the problem. Perhaps the number stamped on the body could help:
41971A -arrow in anticlockwise direction-
35DLM8 1988
54420642

Thank you in advance for you help.

Regards
Christof Kass

[Kassi]

Hi again,

the 54420642 seems to be the casting number and is identical to my de8. Therefore the difference is not the distributor body.
This makes it not easier.

Regards
Christof

[jrv8]

Hi Christof,

The body is correct , but the "88" date stamp is a bit late for an SD1 distributor. (unless it has been a replacement)
Where is the amplifier in relation to the vacuum advance unit ? Two types of 35DLM8 , one with the amp at 45 degrees to the vac unit , and the other type has the amp at 180 degrees to the vac unit.

Only the 45 degree type will work with the SD1 timing cover.
Jim

[Kassi]

Hi Jim,

it's the 45° Type.
One detail is also of interest. I got the distributor with defect advance unit and replaced them with my one from the de8. They should be the same, but I'm not sure and want to find it out.
My consideration so far to solve the problem is to lengthen the rod of the advance unit at about 5 mm, then the rotor arm would show correctly direct to cylinder 1 contact in the distributor cap.

Regards
Christof

[Dutch Paul]

Can`t you just turn the distributor under its clamp to line it up properly - or is the Rover distributor different to most others?

[Kassi]

Yes of course, in this way you can adjust the timing but not the position of the rotor arm. The rotor arm 'normally' always shows direct to the cylinder, when spark is jumping, regardless of the timing adjustment. But not in my case.

Regards
Christof