11 replies to this topic

[83sprite]

1983 sprite
Distributor is seized solid it wont turn or come out, i am at a loss as to what to do next has anyone got some advice??

Cheers
Steve

[Cooperman]

Take off the retaining clamp then spray releasing fluid all around the base of the dizzy. Leave it to soak in, then continue to try until it comes free. It will move - eventually.

[shorty]

*cough* hammer *cough*

only if all else fails though...and tap it gently...rubber mallet probs best

[83sprite]

I have tried spraying wd40, deb lock on it and it stil wont budge and i have also tried some persuasion with a hammer to no effect.

[m1tch]

have you taken the dizzy out? or is it still in the car?

[83sprite]

I have not been able to move or remove the distributor from the car it is seized solid.

[Retro_10s]

Is this engine in a car and wired up etc? With the distributor clamp off try turning the engine over,.. with the starter or by hand... that should get it turning at least...

Or are we talking about just the body of the dizzy that wont turn?

[Cooperman]

Remember the old adage: "If in doubt and it won't come out, use a bigger hammer!"
Seriously, it's just a slide-in fit, so just persevere with the penetrating oil and use a bit of brute force/persuasion. It will come out eventually. Have faith.

[bmcecosse]

Hard to imagine it being 'stuck' - it's in a very oily environment ! What year of engine is it - and what type of dizzy ? Is it held by a fork-like clamp, or an oval plate with a clamping bolt through - and two little screws down into the dizzy mounting block?

[83sprite]

Its a 1983 engine with a duecelliar distributor and its held in by a bracket that bolts on to the engine.

[Ethel]

You could try a filter or pipe wrench. Why do you need to remove it? - just thinking of the risk of breaking it all together.

[MacBodger]

Hi - for anyone looking at this thread for advice, here is my sorry tale. It may actually help as a last resort for someone. Please don't do this until you really are certain that you just cant get it out any othe way.

My A+ engine hadnt been touched in years and years and the dizzy was totally stuck. Previous owners had tried to turn it by using a screwdriver+hammer on the collar, at an angle, to move it round, but to no avail. All the clamps were removed of course, and lots of penetrating oil applied, but it wouldnt budge. I've come across several of these in. y time, but usually they free up. The local garage suggested I take the block to an engineerimg shop - or get a new block. But that would have meant defeat!

As the dizzy was wrecked anyway, I cut away the upper sections to have a clear view of the end of the shaft and the remains of the collar. I removed the first 5mm of aluminium of the distributer from tne block (using a drill and cold chisel) which gave me more chance for more prenatrating oil. Still no go. If anythin, it showed how fimly bonded the dizzy was in the block. I then drilled (s l o w l y) a 6mm hole into the end of the dizzy shaft (ie down th centre of the shaft), about 20mm deep. The shaft is about 13mm diameter. Using a reverse-thread fitting (like a screw extractor) into this, I attached a slide hammer (draper has one with a 6mm reverse thread attachment) and started knocking it out. Even then it look a lot of effort but I finally brought out the corroded dizzy shaft and remnants of the collar.

In retrospect, I might have been able to use a puller, or the slide hammef with 'claws' around the head of the dizzy to pull it out, but as, in my case, the head was alread mishapen it seemed best to cut it off and tap into the shaft . I always put a drop of coppaslip in during reassembly. Someone will thank me for that some day!