Forum

[Martin]

Tardy rebuild of this orphan
50/54 500 Twin thwarted with
rotor position at TDCs simply
not coordinating with dist. cam
opening the points at right
position.

Have checked timing umpteen
times, uprooted the helical
gear position again and again
besides checking the bob weights
which are free.

Currently both generator and the
rotor turn CLOCKWISE, but rotor
at TDC is way past the inside
dist. brass tabs. Yet when a spare
ANTICLOCKWISE rotor is fitted
the timing is spot on for both
TDC cylinders

Norm. if you are in town, perhaps
you could check your 700 twin rotor
position and direction for me, and
where the rotor end up at left cyl.
TDC

None of the manuals mention actually
to manipulate the bob weights in the
advance position. Currently, the left
hand cyl. is too retarde, whilst the
right hand cyl points are long closed
and obviously no spark there.

Grateful for any feedback, as how
many more lonely hours can you spend
in a desolate garage brooding about
this?

Thanxs, Gordon

[Mark M]

Gordon, can't check timing on my Meteor at the moment but be aware there are many many different rotors out there! They were used on cars, tractors, bikes and there are even different ones for 4 and 6 cylinder engines plus different directions of rotation. Not all have the Lucas part number on even when genuine. Have a look at the website of The Distributor Doctor for further information including discussion of poor quality Chinese parts. Hope this doesn't confuse the issue! REgards, Mark

[Martin]

Thanks, Mark, for Distributor
Doc guide. One wonders how a
abandoned motor from rural B.C.
could acquire other Lucas cap
and none-stock detritus. Sole
rotor that resembles the parts
book feeble illustration no.
400052 is marked 'PARK', that's
Korean isn't it! At least the
directions are right as per
Norm's note below. Besides,
what else used a two plug dist.
a Jowett/ Bradford van? Will
struggle on!

[Mark M]

Off the top of my head I offer the Sunbeam S7 & S8 as possible candidates... REgards, Mark

[Chevy]

Hi Gordon,
I think Mark may have the right idea, you need to be sure you have the correct rotor arm. This distributor was fitted to many British twins in both clockwise and anticlock directions with different rotor arms but there will be dozens of other rotor arms from other Lucas distributors that will fit but not work. On the magnetos, Lucas always described their rotation from the driven end, if the distributors are the same, your distributor on the 50/54 model will be classed as an anticlock where on the 1957 500 twin they fitted the same style distributor but in a clockwise direction.
Chevy

[Martin]

Thanks, Chevy, for your
imput. During a arduous
review of the problem
again with Norm, we are
more inclined to think
it is a wrong cam issue.
Had since unearthed a
Lucas '49/'56 catalogue,
eight different cams
alone are listed for the
Enfield style distriubtor,
Unfortunatly, the page
for the rotors is missing.
Noticed meanwhile the unit
was marked 9/56, and now
you kindly mentioned your
'57 motor has the same unit
too, so the little official
orange parts books are not
necessarily gospel. Will try
the extempory measures that
Norm suggested before one
delves any deeper for the
moment. Gordon

[Mark M]

Gordon, I have a copy of the Lucas Parts Book and I'm pretty sure it has this section so I will check it for you. REgards, Mark

[Mark M]

Gordon, I only have data for 1957 and the cam for that year is 422381. The main index says 500T used 2 distributors, one from 1949-54 (DKX2A 40168B) and one for 1957 (DKX2A 40550A). Hope this helps and let me know if you need further info. WAIT! Just found another piece of Lucas info! (I bought some original Parts Sheets off Ebay recently) and the 1954 page says cam is 415283 and it is common to 700 Meteor and 500T. REgards, Mark

[Martin]

Mark, those '49/'54 Lucas
dist. numbers seem to be
consistent throughout, but
'twas good that you kindly
confirmed that. However, my
9/56 ('57) dist.is marked
DKX2A 40458A, and may be
from the debris I have of
a '57 500 'Tomahawk' motor
Have since slowly realized
'57/'58 Twins have their
distributor tucked under
the carb. HORIZONALLY, and
dist. cap could well be w/
HT leads coming out the side.
Perhaps Chevy could tell us.
If your '57 Lucas spec sheet
tells us of the part numbers
of the cap, rotor and cam
for that unit, I can ask the
Dist.Doc if they originally
were on the odd ball 40458A.
Surfed his web site, and he's
the man, albiet for automotiv
applications. Thanks, Mark
this is a good alternative
source anyway for at least
the rotor, the Doc's pics
of my 400052 rotor is at
least different from mine
already! Having part nos.
sure helps in querying, and
foraging later at swap meets.
Gordon

[Martin]

Mark, those '49/'54 Lucas
dist. numbers seem to be
consistent throughout, but
'twas good that you kindly
confirmed that. However, my
9/56 ('57) dist.is marked
DKX2A 40458A, and may be
from the debris I have of
a '57 500 'Tomahawk' motor
Have since slowly realized
'57/'58 Twins have their
distributor tucked under
the carb. HORIZONALLY, and
dist. cap could well be w/
HT leads coming out the side.
Perhaps Chevy could tell us.
If your '57 Lucas spec sheet
tells us of the part numbers
of the cap, rotor and cam
for that unit, I can ask the
Dist.Doc if they originally
were on the odd ball 40458A.
Surfed his web site, and he's
the man, albiet for automotiv
applications. Thanks, Mark
this is a good alternative
source anyway for at least
the rotor, the Doc's pics
of my 400052 rotor is at
least different from mine
already! Having part nos.
sure helps in querying, and
foraging later at swap meets.
Gordon