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denver_74
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2011
Posts: 540
Location: Northern NY
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 Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:03 am Post subject: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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Installed a new distributor. Correct BOSCH SVDA 0 231 170 034. Car starts but very low idle and struggles to stay running. Common sense says its coil/distributor related "look to the last thing you touched and work backwards" BUT the lack of idle acts like its a fuel/carb issue. Hard throttle/sustained throttle pulls fires no issue. Drops back down to idle and it starts "chugging", stays running then just quietly quits. Starts back up.
Because its Vac advance I sort thinking I need to check the carb setup.
Everything was smooth running before the new distributor
Thoughts?? D74
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51130
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:07 am Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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| denver_74 wrote: |
| Everything was smooth running before the new distributor |
Explain your timing procedure for us please.
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denver_74
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2011
Posts: 540
Location: Northern NY
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| Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:51 am Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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Connect one side of test light to #1 terminal of coil... Connect other side of test light to ground ...Put crank pulley at 7.5° BTDC and turn key on, and rotate dist till test lamp lights.
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51130
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:09 am Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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You really need a timing light to finish the job properly. The lack of idle could be due to how the last distributor was timed, you likely have to turn the larger adjustment screw on the left side CCW to raise the idle.
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denver_74
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2011
Posts: 540
Location: Northern NY
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| Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:13 am Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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thank you for your prompt reply. it would also help if I had set the timing to 7.5º before TDC and not do my adjustments at 0º TDC. Start and idle much improved but you are absolutely correct about adjusting the carb via timing light. 34pict/3
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MuzzcoVW
Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2018
Posts: 1462
Location: Westfield, MA.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 5:04 am Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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| What Busdaddy said. Static timing is only used for firing up a new engine so you can get it in the ballpark...then use the timing light. There seems to be a rash of people lately who think that static timing is all you have to do. A timing light is ALWAYS needed. Its also a great idea to check max advance. You don't want over 30 degrees in a stock engine. I always set mine at max for peace of mind and let the idle timing fall wherever it may. |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:13 am Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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I think most of the confusion comes from folks not understanding that there is a difference between an SVDA distributor and a SVA unit.
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denver_74
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2011
Posts: 540
Location: Northern NY
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| Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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just to double check on the advance it should be (with vacuums plugged, engine warm) the maximum advance is set to the correct 28-30o BTDC at 3500 rpm?
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51130
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: New Distributor - Poor Idle. |
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Correct, hose(s) off and revved until the mark stops moving at 30 even though engine speed is still increasing (usually ~3500), replace hose(s) after tightening the clamp.
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