Dizzy failure

[craggle]

Interesting, Doesn't sound like a simple roll pin problem.

Be interested to hear what has happened.

Craig.

[JonnyT]

Thanks Guys,

I've tried to get the dizzy out today and I've had no luck which fills me with fear.

Fortunately Jez at BAE has been fantastic and on the phone to me all day and I'm going to take it to him and he's going to get the dizzy out for me - its his engine after all unless, I can persuade it out tomorrow. I've tried with a little persuasion with a leather mallet but the body moves and the shaft stay stuck fast.

I'll keep you updated!

[craggle]

Have you tried turning the distributor shaft whilst pulling it upwards?
Maybe turning the engine over by hand backwards will help to push it up as well.

Craig.

[JonnyT]

Hmmm - good idea. I know this is a stupid question but which way is backwards? Is it anticlockwise when looking from the front??!

BTW - Thanks for the offer Jeremy - fortunately I have tin top as well for the wife which I can use if necessary

[craggle]

Yeah, Looking at the front of the engine the bottom pulley should normally spin clockwise so anticlockwise to turn it backwards.

Craig.

[JonnyT]

Hanging head in shame for stupid questions now!! Thanks.

[mike huddart]

Johny,
if the distributor moves and comes up a bit ,say 1/4" then chances are the oil pump shaft is twisted and siezed in the bottom of the disi. On the basis of cause and effect, if the roll pin HAS sheered, and it sounds as if it has, then the likely reason is that something has gone through the oil pump and locked it up. The roll pin on an MSD disi is a double wound thing and is much stronger than the usual type so the chances of tweeking or indeed shearing the oil pump shaft are high. There is a small circlip on the driveshaft to stop the shaft coming out when you remove the distributor, its probably this that's stopping it being removed.If you can get the sump off without much work I would bite the bullet and take the pan and oil pump off to see what's happening, a bit of work, I know, but might save you a lot of grief in the long term. If the oil shaft is siezed the you can usually yank it out from underneath or break the circlip with a long screwdriver or something then draw the disi out with the shaft still attached.
Mike

[mike huddart]

Originally Posted by mike huddart

Johny,
if the distributor moves and comes up a bit ,say 1/4" then chances are the oil pump shaft is twisted and siezed in the bottom of the disi. On the basis of cause and effect, if the roll pin HAS sheered, and it sounds as if it has, then the likely reason is that something has gone through the oil pump and locked it up. The roll pin on an MSD disi is a double wound thing and is much stronger than the usual type so the chances of tweeking or indeed shearing the oil pump shaft are high. There is a small circlip on the driveshaft to stop the shaft coming out when you remove the distributor, its probably this that's stopping it being removed.If you can get the sump off without much work I would bite the bullet and take the pan and oil pump off to see what's happening, a bit of work, I know, but might save you a lot of grief in the long term. If the oil shaft is siezed the you can usually yank it out from underneath or break the circlip with a long screwdriver or something then draw the disi out with the shaft still attached.
Mike

Mind you, it could just be the o-ring that's stuck in the block, have you tried using a lever off the top of the water pump and under the main disi body, you can give it a good yank, there's nothing much you can hurt.
Mike

[JonnyT]

Thanks Mike.

Not having built the engine myself I'm not familiar with the insides. If I take the sump off which is only a number of bolts and easy to remove can I get to the oil pump?

The O'ring was suggested by Jez so I've put some WD40 around it and will see if that makes a difference. I've tried with a leather mallet and that makes the body move upwards by about 1mm - it moves freely in that mm but will move no more. The shaft stays still which might be the oil pump issue I guess.

[mike huddart]

Jonny,
If you take the oil pan off the rest is pretty straight forward. The oil pump is held by two bolts and it comes away with the pickup and, usually, the drive in place. If the drive is stuck in the disi the pump should still drop away leaving the drive in place, the circlip on the drive shaft is to prevent the drive being pulled upwards and disengaging from the oil pump when you take the disi out.
If the drive IS stuck in the disi and the roll pin is sheered then you need to take the base plate off the pump to see what stopped it turning and see if there is any damage.
Mike