Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for cap

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rbgosling
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Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for cap

Post by rbgosling »

Hi - anyone got an old distributor lying around they can spare me a couple of bits from?

I need the "top hat" shaft retainer, as highlighted in the piccy below (the part shown in red in the zoom-in detail), and also one cap retaining clip. I tried Lotusbits - they are going to have some "top hat" retainers made but no idea when they'll be ready, otherwise they will sell me an entire used distributor, which is a bit much money when all I need is that tiny bit!

Image
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
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2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by barker_001 »

I don't have any spare parts I'm afraid Richard, but those DZB101 kits come up on ebay fairly regularly, they (and the 45DM4 distributor) are used on plenty of other cars too. The kit looks to include both the top hat and cap clips as service parts. The cap clips on my dizzy are missing those small retaining clips, having read about your exploits I may be looking for some too.
Bryan

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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by Johnwindwood »

Kind regards

John

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Lotus-e-Clan
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by Lotus-e-Clan »

Johnwindwood wrote:Try this guy:
http://www.distributordoctor.com/
Exactly. :)

I've already recommended the Dist Doc for proper parts twice in the main thread so hopefully you will succeed where I have failed. :? (Or maybe there is a LB loyalty thing I'm missing ...or maybe there is there something I've said/done to warrant being sent to Coventry ...ironic 'cos i was born, raised and lived in Coventry for 23 years? :wink: :| )
Peter K

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rbgosling
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by rbgosling »

Lotus-e-Clan wrote:
Johnwindwood wrote:Try this guy:
http://www.distributordoctor.com/
Exactly. :)

I've already recommended the Dist Doc for proper parts twice in the main thread so hopefully you will succeed where I have failed. :? (Or maybe there is a LB loyalty thing I'm missing ...or maybe there is there something I've said/done to warrant being sent to Coventry ...ironic 'cos i was born, raised and lived in Coventry for 23 years? :wink: :| )
I got the message about The Distributor Doctor loud and clear thanks Peter! I emailed him as soon as LB proved less than helpful (no reply yet...), but thought it worth posting here too in case someone had a box of spares they could raid - trying to cover all options simultaneously to increase my chances of a prompt resolution. NB Lotusbits was first port of call for the simple reason that they are 5 miles from home, so I’d get parts today rather than waiting.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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Lotus-e-Clan
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by Lotus-e-Clan »

Sorry I have a bit of an inferiority/guilty complex about previous bad behavior that got me banned temporarily on here -but it was all for the good in the end (I think, at least)! 8)

BTW best to phone the Dist Doc if you have time ..it's an educational experience.
Peter K

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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by Johnwindwood »

I was just going to say-ring him-I have never had a reply by email.
Kind regards

John

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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by Grant H »

I'm in the middle of pulling my old distributor apart! I picked up a new old stock 1.6 Sunbeam one on Fleebay (An impulse due to price) a while back and am planning to swap the weights and springs across. I'm running with a 123 ignition at the moment so it's taking it's time. I can check tonight if I do have two of the clips. Are you willing to wait until after the weekend for the part?

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rbgosling
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by rbgosling »

Grant H wrote:I'm in the middle of pulling my old distributor apart! I picked up a new old stock 1.6 Sunbeam one on Fleebay (An impulse due to price) a while back and am planning to swap the weights and springs across. I'm running with a 123 ignition at the moment so it's taking it's time. I can check tonight if I do have two of the clips. Are you willing to wait until after the weekend for the part?
Thanks Grant! I've got a couple of avenues I'm pursuing, no idea yet if they will bear fruit, but if I don't find anything before you get to yours at the weekend then I'll definitely be grateful if you have any parts you can spare.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by pompey ice »

Hi there ,The parts in red are what comes in that kit .
Cheers Ian

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rbgosling
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by rbgosling »

Nothing on eBay right now for the DBZ101 kit (although I can see it having been listed in the past). Search of the rest of the internet doesn't uncover anyone selling a kit using that code.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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rbgosling
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by rbgosling »

Thanks to Peter and John for pointing me towards Distributor Doctor - just given him a call and it's all sorted, everything I need will be in the post this afternoon! He tells me he did already reply to my email yesterday, but it must have got lost in the ether, not even appeared in my Spam folder.

Grant - thanks for the offer of help, but having tracked down a new Top Hat collar I think I'll stick with that, I'd always worry that an older one would be at risk of cracking again.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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Grant H
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by Grant H »

The fins in the old distributor look to be stuck open and I can't get the larger of the springs off. What is the best way of removing the retainer and then the shaft?
Last edited by Grant H on Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:07, edited 2 times in total.

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Grant H
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Re: Distributor parts - "top hat" shaft retainer, clip for c

Post by Grant H »

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