Distributors - Carburetter Models

Distributors - Carburetter Models
No. Part No. Description Qty. Remarks No. Part No. Description Qty. Remarks
Distributors
Mini distributors fall into a number of distinctly different designs. Up until 1973 the Lucas 25D unit
was used, except on Cooper S models which used a version without vacuum ad vance called the 23D
type. From 1974 until 1980 the Lucas 45D type was used, with a few cars, like the Mini Special,
receiving Ducellier units instead. From the introduction of the revised A+ series engine in 1980,the
Lucas 45D and Ducellier distributors were fitted as alternatives on 850 and 1100 engines , with
respectively similar Lucas 59D or Ducellier units being fitted to 1000 engines.
With the reintroduction of the 1275 engine in the Cooper in 1990, a new modular electronic distributor
appeared, the 64D unit, while the 1000 engined Minis carried on with the non-electronic 59D until that
engine size was dropped in 1992.
The distributor manufacturer and type are stamped or cast into the casing - positively identifying your
distributor before ordering parts is vital because of the different types used over the years, plus the fact
that many cars have received distributor swaps during their lifetimes.
A few things to note when servicing or repairing distributors:
Before fitting a new rotor arm during an ignition service on a Lucas distributor, don’t forget to put a
drop of oil on the felt pad inside the top of the cam spindle - it will help reduce wear of the spindle
and its bush.
If after setting the points gap you find the points are still wildly out of adjustment, there are three
probable causes:
(i) the points slipped as you tightened the screw, or you didn’t tighten the screw enough (tr y setting
the points again).
(ii) the distributor spindle bush is worn, allowing the spindle and points operating cam to rotate out of
true (replacing the bush helps considerably, even if the spindle shows some sign of wear as well).
(iii) the distributor spindle is distorted or bent - this problem is more common than you’d think,
especially if the engine to which the distributor is attached has suffered a bit of rough handling at
some point in its life . The best remedy here would be a new or reconditioned distributor.
Advance systems on distributors are often ignored or assumed to be in good health when in fact quite
the reverse may be true. All distributors on Minis use a centrifugal advance mechanism; as the engine
gets faster, so the timing advances (by way of the spinning weights on the spindle - the amount of
advance is checked by springs) to maintain performance and economy. It follows that correct
operation of the advance mechanism is critical to engine operation. Undiagnosed siezed advance
weights or tired springs can cause endless frustration when trying to retune an engine.
Similarly, the vacuum advance unit found on the majority of Mini distributors is often overlooked
when investigating poor running - a failed advance unit will seriously affect cruise speed economy.
Lucas Type 25D and 23D Distributors
1959-73 (All Models)
Many, many variants of this distributor design were fitted to the Mini, each calibrated for use with a
particular engine and/or fuel grade. Units with vacuum advance, known as 25D, were used on most
models, but the Cooper S used a distributor without vacuum advance known as the 23D. If you require
a new distributor, Somerford Mini can offer two options.
You can purchase one of the two units below and use the spring set listed under ‘Repair and Overhaul
Parts’ to set it up correctly for your car. Alternatively, an Aldon distributor (see later in this section)
will give you original appearance with a much improved, more efficient, advance curve.
1 GEU930 DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, 25D, new, 1 With vacuum advance unit; not
replacement Cooper S.
12G2140 DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, 23D, new, 1 Without vacuum advance unit;
replacement Cooper S.
25D and 23D Distributor Service Parts
2 GDC102 CAP, distributor, side entry 1
3 GDC103 CAP, distributor, top entry 1 Alternative.
4 GRA101 ROTOR ARM 1
5 GCS2101 CONTACT SET, ‘points’ 1 Not Cooper S .
GCS111 CONTACT SET, ‘points’ 1 Cooper S.
6 XX004Z SCREW, contact set 1
7 GSC2111 CONDENSER 1
8 32021Z SCREW, condenser 1
25D and 23D Distributor Repair and Overhaul Parts
9 262703A BRUSH AND SPRING, high tension 1 Included in distributor cap ass’y.
10 511851 FELT PAD, cam spindle lubrication 1
11 37H5409 L. T. LEAD AND INSULATOR, 1 For early distributors marked with
with screw terminal Lucas numbers 40648 and 40707.
37H2981 L. T. LEAD AND INSULATOR, 1 For all later distributors.
with spade terminal
12 DSK001 SPRING SET, auto advance 1 Selective fitment.
13 57H5565 VACUUM ADVANCE UNIT, replacement 1 With screw union; use with metal
vacuum pipe.
37H3840 VACUUM ADVANCE UNIT, replacement 1 With push-on union; use with nylon
vacuum pipe.
14 54412436 BASE PLATE, fixed 1 Long pin type.
54422372 BASE PLATE, fixed 1 Short pin type.
15 606895 BUSH, distributor spindle 1 Requires cutting to correct length.
16 513682A O RING, distributor spindle sealing 1
17 8G726 COVER, distributor cap, waterproof 1 For side entry cap.
18 AUU1104 COVER, distributor cap, waterproof 1 For top entry cap.
19 501134 PLATE, clamping distributor to 1
engine block
20 SH604041 SCREW, plate to engine block 2
21 LWZ204 WASHER, locking 2
22 245015 SUNDRY PARTS KIT 1 Includes screws for points and
condenser, split pins for cap clips,
plus various other fixings for use
during distributor overhaul.
Lucas Type 45D and 59D Distributors
1974-92 (1000 Engined Models Only After 1984)
Once again, several pages-worth of 45D and 59D distributors could be listed here for Mini applications!
This would be neither customer-friendly nor representative of what distributors are available, or likely to
become available in future. The truth is that ver y few 45D and 59D distributors are being manufactured
or are available new.
We can only offer the very basic range shown below, each of which may require calibration with springs
and weights etc. to make them suitable for your car (unless you own a post-1980 A+ engined Mini
1000, in which case the two distributors listed are already correctly set up).
A Series and A+ distributors are not interchangeable; the drive dog on the bottom of the distributor and
the its corresponding distributor drive in the engine changed upon the introduction of A+.
23 BAU1962 DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, 45D, new, 1 A Series 850, 1000, 1100 engines
replacement 1974-80.
12G4180 DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, 45D, new, 1 A Series 1275 engines 1974-80.
replacement
ADU3766 DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, 45D, new, 1 A+ Series 850 and 1100 engines
replacement 1980-84.
ADU4049 DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, 59D, new, 1 A+ Series 1000 engines 1980 on.
replacement
ADU5789 DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, 59D, new, 1 A+ Series 1000 engines 1980 on;
replacement
unleaded fuel.
45D and 59D Distributor Service Parts
24 GDC136 CAP, distributor, top entry 1
GDC142 CAP, distributor, side entry 1 Alternative.
25 GRA2114 ROTOR ARM 1 Use with GDC136 distributor cap.
GRA2128 ROTOR ARM 1 Use with GDC142 distributor cap.
26 GCS2118 CONTACT SET, ‘points’ 1 For 45D distributors (red points).
GCS2261 CONTACT SET, ‘points’ 1 For 59D distributors (blue points).
27 XX133Z SCREW, contact set 1
28 GSC2109 CONDENSER, with L. T. lead 1
29 TR017Z SCREW, condenser 1
45D and 59D Distributor Repair and Overhaul Parts
30 RTC315A BRUSH AND SPRING, high tension 1 Included in distributor cap assembly.
31 511851 FELT PAD, cam spindle lubrication 1
32 DSK001 SPRING SET, auto advance 1 Selective fitment.
33 37H8225 VACUUM ADVANCE UNIT, replacement 1 For 45D distributors; 850 and 1100
1974-84, 1000 1974-80.
37H8379 VACUUM ADVANCE UNIT, replacement 1 For 45D distributors, 1275 engines,
1974-80.
37H8414 VACUUM ADVANCE UNIT, replacement 1 For 45D distributors , alternative for
1000 engines 1974-80.
37H8226 VACUUM ADVANCE UNIT, replacement 1 For 59D distributors , 1000 engines
1980-92.
34 54425181 BASE PLATE ASSEMBLY 1 For 45D distributors.
35 513682A O RING, distributor spindle sealing 1
36 AUU1104 COVER, distributor cap, waterproof 1 For top entry cap.
Tel. 01249 721421 Fax. 01249 721316 www.somerford-mini.co.uk
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