Crikey! Not Again.

[ruckman101]

And yes, the small grounding wire isn't soldered to anything, but wrapped around the post and tangled in the spring on the end of the vacuum advance arm. So when vacuum advances, tension on that copper braid wire is eased. It's a cleaner wire than it was. I noticed on a different distributor that that grounding wire was longer with an end not a spade but a loop tightened down under the gap adjust bolt holding down the point assembly. I like that better than the solder.

I'm really having trouble visualizing this. Can you post a picture?

Then again, last night at the Lab, others have had no running issues with that little internal distributor ground gone, everything's grounded through the distributor body to the case anyway the logic goes.

I think that Bosch has as many bean-counters as any large corporation, and if the little ground strap wasn't necessary, they would have snipped it off. The point carrier plate in a vacuum-advance distributor rides on three little plastic buttons which insulate the carrier plate from the base plate in the distributor body. There are other points of contact where the carrier plate may ground to the base plate, but those are sliding contacts, and not guaranteed to provide a reliable electrical ground.

This is side discussion, however. The problem you're facing doesn't seem to be a lack of ground, but the opposite: unconditional ground. Hope the correct points solve the problem for you.

Lyle

Here is the ground strap set-up on the 113 905 205T. Strap is loose, so I wrapped and tangled it into the spring.



I've only seen the strap soldered ever, so am assuming that this is an innovative owner's work-around/solution to a broken ground strap that I like better than solder. This is on a 113 905 205M.



I've also noticed that the vacuum can, while responsive, doesn't hold it's vacuum. Vacuum advance, plug, and it slowly creeps back to a non advanced position. So I'm going to swap it with the can from the 205M which doesn't lose it's vacuum when plugged.

Hopefully this issue isn't going to get the best of me today.


neal

[ruckman101]

Dandy. Static timed real text-book. But then the battery wouldn't turn the engine over. It has been awful cold this past week, still, it doesn't usually kill my battery. Double checked the wires at the starter, polished them all up purty and shiny, still nothing, so battery charger it was. Seemed to do the trick. Screamed to life this morning, cold idle at 2400 rpm, but settled down to a sweet just under 900 rpm, clutch is adjusted correctly, was able to pull and block the vacuum hose and set timing at 0 degrees with the light.

Went on a short test run and she ran like a dream. Smooth, no hesitation, transaxle is a bit whinier than the other one, power, no backfiring, responsive. Hallelujah!

Dipstick still cool, thermostat opened, no excessive temps anywhere I could point the laser temperature gun. Neal is happy.


neal

[sped372]

Dipstick still cool, thermostat opened, no excessive temps anywhere I could point the laser temperature gun. Neal is happy.

[ruckman101]

Indeed. Not sure what the issue was, which is annoying. Same points, same used cap and rotor, same new condenser. Dwell is at 48. Did put the better working vacuum can on, did put the grounding jumper into the distributor rather than tangling the ground braid into the spring. Now to get a spacer back onto the back passenger drum still scraping on the brake backing plate even with the essentially new drums. Turn signals, new brake pads, bearings up front, heater control cables, uhhh what else, oh yeah, new engine and used transaxle into the ghia, new DP for Bertha, then the SP engine can go into the baja, or maybe the new DP into the baja, undecided, then I have the limping SP that came out of the ghia, and Bertha's dead engine to tear down to see where they are at. Oh my.

One step at a time, at least the "no car" crisis seems to be over for the moment.


neal

[Amskeptic]

Indeed.
One step at a time,

Good grief, that ^ is quite a list for wintertime.

My Winter List:
BobD: inflate tires to 42, dust with Lemon Pledge under dash.
TBRRD: inflate tires to 42, wash windows.
Lexus: get a jump start at the AutoZone, get a jump start at the storage unit, get a jump start at the Marathon gas station, get a cup of chili and ponder why I need jump starts.
Wait for 70* and sunny.
Colin

[ruckman101]

Brrr. Studded tires onto the back of Bertha tomorrow. The laser temp tells me the shop area is a brisk 42 degrees today. Our dry spell seems to be over. A misty rain started which has now turned to snow.

Went into town yesterday for a mess of errands and Bertha was a champ. Seem to have an oil drip, and the smell of burning oil is wafting into the cab somehow. Dang it.


neal

[vdubyah73]

a v/c or the head end of a p/r tube leak can find it's way into the h/e.

[ruckman101]

Ok, I got p/r, push-rod tube; h/e, heat exchanger; but you lost me on v/c.


neal

[vdubyah73]

valve cover. not being short. posting on a wII. waving a remote around to move a cursor to one letter a t time. on a flat tv. ;»)

[ruckman101]

valve cover. not being short. posting on a wII. waving a remote around to move a cursor to one letter a t time. on a flat tv. ;»)

lol, I am familiar with that tedium. Thanks.


neal

[Xelmon]

Hellz yes! Nice job man, good to know that you fixed for now. :)

See you tonight?