Electronic Ignition Installation Problem

[codekiddie]

Finally got around to installing the Simon BBC electronic ignition, but have hit a snag

I removed the points and condenser to reveal the plate onto which the unit will be installed......

.....but as you can see in the next picture, the trigger ring will not fit over the cams, as there is a washer with a spring underneath it getting in the way.

A call to Simon BBC suggested that all I needed to do was undo the nut, remove the washer and spring, then replace the nut. I duly did this, and sure enough it all fitted fine......

......but......the base plate is now too loose, since the function of the spring and washer arrangement is to hold it in place, but still allow the vacuum advance to move the plate :?

A second call gave another solution. Replace the washer and then screw the nut right down to the plate. Unfortunately I found there was a pillar stopping the washer and nut from going very far :?

After the third call I was told that there are apparently four different styles of this type of plate, and my one they see in about one in every hundred they sell. Typical, I thought :shock:

The answer is to apparently make your own spacer piece that will fit around the pillar so the nut can successfully be used to hold the plate. Not particularly an easy fix, and looks like it would have to be quite thin to still miss the trigger ring, and I would have thought that it would have been better to keep the spring arrangement so as not to inadvertently tighten the plate too much for the vacuum advance to do it's job :?:

Has anyone else come across this problem with this particular make of electronic ignition?

What I really don't understand is that on their FAQ page, it is mentioned that there are two different ignition modules, depending on which base plate you have fitted, and the picture of the plate, for the module I have purchased, looks exactly the same as mine???


Any ideas, or pics of your installation on this type of plate most welcome

 

[rockdemon]

The other base plate is a completely different shape.

It does seem there are configurations out there which they just aren't geared up for....

Rich.

 

[codekiddie]

The other base plate is a completely different shape.

It does seem there are configurations out there which they just aren't geared up for....

Rich.

Hi Rich.

What they are saying is that my base plate, (the more triangular shaped one), has four different flavours of it's own, and that mine is the rare one which has this particular problem, (but just happens to look remarkably like the one pictured on their website) :?

You are quite correct that the other style of base plate is a completely different shape, but they cater for this by supplying a different ignition unit to suit.

Anybody else have this rare one, and if so how did you get around it :? or indeed did it fit easily and I have just missed something, wouldn't be the first time :shock:

 

[harveyp6]

I can only think of 3 different baseplates offhand, maybe there's one more that I'm not remembering.

 

[codekiddie]

I do have an alternative base plate, (left hand one in this picture), to the one I have installed, (right hand one). Does anybody know if they are simply interchangeable, or are they specific to the dizzy?

It would mean that I would have to purchase their alternative module, but maybe I can suggest a swap since I am having fitting problems with the first one

 

[Philippe Holland]

Hi, did you find a solution to the problem?
What is the part number of your distributor?
I have just received a Simon BBC kit (K3) and my base plate looks to be the same as yours.
My distributor is part number 41317.

 

[codekiddie]

Hi, did you find a solution to the problem?
What is the part number of your distributor?
I have just received a Simon BBC kit (K3) and my base plate looks to be the same as yours.
My distributor is part number 41317.

Hi.

I did get the ignition module to fit, but had to make the very thin spacer I mentioned above. Even then I had to turn the dwell adjuster fully in, to move the plate as far away from the trigger ring as possible. It was still a very small gap between trigger and spacer, and I was never really happy with this 'fix', and have since gone back to good old points and condenser.

The part number of my distributor is 41392A. I believe my kit from Simon BBC was the K3X one, so would be interested to know if your K3 fits without problems.

 

[Philippe Holland]

There seems to be a slight mismatch of information on SimonBBC's website and his Ebay adverts.
I bought what I thought was the right kit via Ebay, which was more expensive than his site, but the postage was 1/3rd the cost...
Identical kits on his site and Ebay have different prices too.
Also the photos he uses on the ads seem generic.
The picture of your K3X is very different from my K3 even though the red module and the trigger ring appear identical.

His listing on Ebay for a P6 3500 said K3. I asked if I needed the K3X in the 'additional comments' section when paying, explaining that I have the triangular plate, but received the K3.
I've now ordered the K3X and will keep the K3 for spares as the modules seem identical.

I have the same issue as you with an interference between the trigger ring and the spring and washer on post that the base plate pivots around.
The spring appears identical to the one used on the dwell adjustment, so I imagine Lucas just made a post to fit and used the same spring twice.
I do not see why the spring needs to be so tall?
However, there is space on the post under the trigger ring when it is fitted for a 1/4" ID spring washer which I'll use.

I've also made a thin walled collar to go around the post, allowing me to tighten the nut and have some spring resistance without locking the base plate too tightly.
You may have seen my post about a quick rebuild I did of my 41317. I was amazed by how much play I had in the base plate bush.

I'll post pictures if my solution works with more details.