Vernier Adjustement of Distributor

Robert Hiland · Post by **Robert Hiland** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 1:28 pm

I have noticed some pinging (pinking) lately and wondered how and which way to rotate the vernier adjustment to retard timing.

Many thanks

ALAN COCHRANE · Post by **ALAN COCHRANE** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 5:56 pm

Robert

The Vernier adjustment on a dmb6 dizzy is 6 clicks either way from the centre position. I don't know what that equates to in degrees , but not much at all is the probable answer. It's much easier to loosen the pinch clamp below the distributor and move it anti-clockwise to advance the ignition. Take it for a test drive (with a long socket drive) and keep moving the dizzy until the pinking disappears- job done.

Cheers

Alan

mystery type · Post by **mystery type** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 6:03 pm

Although hard to see, there is a + and - (plus and minus ) on the vernier body showing which way to adjust the points.

Are you using the high octane petrol, although about 8 pence a litre more expensive i find its worth the extra.

as an aside, a friend of mine who has an austin A35 finds that when he uses the high octane petrol he can stay in 4th gear when climbing the hill local to us.
yet when using ordinary fuel he has to change down to 3rd.
:?

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 7:34 pm

ALAN COCHRANE wrote:It's much easier to loosen the pinch clamp below the distributor and move it anti-clockwise to advance the ignition.

Nope. The opposite is true.

ALAN COCHRANE · Post by **ALAN COCHRANE** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 9:32 pm

Pete

Yes I should have said retard the ignition. I seem to have a mental block about this subject.

Alan

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 9:41 am

When helping to service cars almost 50 years ago at the garage where my dad worked, we used to find that the vernier adjustment gave you plenty of scope to go from non-pinking to pinking and back again, unless the car was miles out on timing. It was fairly standard to advance the vernier until pinking started, then back off about 2 clicks.

Moeregaard · Post by **Moeregaard** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 1:06 pm

According to my Haynes manual, a maximum of six clicks on the vernier adjustment is allowed. If this doesn't stop the pinking, then the timing will require retardation by moving the distributor body.

If the onset of the pinking was sudden and severe, I would suspect a problem with the centrifugal-advance bits (broken/dropped spring), or a bad diaphragm in the vacuum unit.

Robert Hiland · Post by **Robert Hiland** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 1:17 pm

Thanks to everyone. Will top up the tank with Shell V Power, go for a run (AKA the Jaguar tune up) and make the adjustments. Sometimes I think I'm getting too picky. I never use the radio so that I can listen to new noises.

Cheers.

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 10:10 am

Robert, you probably know, but Tesco own brand "Momentum" is the same octane as Shell V Power, and there's always a Tesco around!

38E · Post by **38E** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 3:46 pm

We don't have Tesco here in Ontario but Shell's premium V-Power, Canadian Tire Premium and Esso Premium all work in my 3.8 and what's more, they are all ethanol free.

Any other premium, such as PetroCanada's causes awful pinking as well as containing ethanol and I know that my timing is spot-on.

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

The 'E' Type Forum

Vernier Adjustement of Distributor

#1 Vernier Adjustement of Distributor

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10