15-02-2022, 04:33 PM
I think that 8 degrees of distributor advance would give 16 at the crank. Your strobe seems to confirm this.
That plate looks in surprisingly good condition, so it's likely that your DK4 is working well. Unusual I think.
I got new springs from the distributor doctor. One was lighter than the other. The various old distributors I have seem to have both springs the same.
On another car we have a more modern, 1972, distributor (Not Austin). That has one weak spring and one strong. I think the reason for this is that at cranking speed there is no advance, but as soon as the engine fires the weak spring is fully extended, hence advancing the ignition. Thereafter the strong spring takes over. This automatically retards the ignition for starting.
We gave up with the DK4s, they were all very worn. Now have an Accuspark which works very well. Having all new mechanical advance mechanism is a big advantage.
I tried a Bosch, it was a disaster. I believe the Bosch look-alikes are to be avoided.
If the strobe shows a gradual advance then it must be working well. I suspect that worn ones don't advance properly.
That plate looks in surprisingly good condition, so it's likely that your DK4 is working well. Unusual I think.
I got new springs from the distributor doctor. One was lighter than the other. The various old distributors I have seem to have both springs the same.
On another car we have a more modern, 1972, distributor (Not Austin). That has one weak spring and one strong. I think the reason for this is that at cranking speed there is no advance, but as soon as the engine fires the weak spring is fully extended, hence advancing the ignition. Thereafter the strong spring takes over. This automatically retards the ignition for starting.
We gave up with the DK4s, they were all very worn. Now have an Accuspark which works very well. Having all new mechanical advance mechanism is a big advantage.
I tried a Bosch, it was a disaster. I believe the Bosch look-alikes are to be avoided.
If the strobe shows a gradual advance then it must be working well. I suspect that worn ones don't advance properly.
Jim