Graham Russell wanted me to post up a thread to warn you all about a problem he has discovered on pulsar dissies that can make them lock up due to lack of lubrication in the shaft.

Graham has discovered this after doing 2 people's Dissies as per another thread where we were discussing incorrect dissy timing for Pulsar Dissies: http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic ... &start=330

Essentially if you take one apart you will note that the way the shaft grooves spin actually draws oil OUT of the dissy. This is because on a pulsar the dissy sits on it's side below the oil line. The dissy in normal pulsar engine opperation is flooded with oil and therefore the shaft draws the oil out to lubricate the shaft.

In a mini modification the dissy runs upsidedown (or right way up, whichever way you want to describe it) and essentially runs dry!!! After dismantling 3 of these dissies (inc his own) Graham has discovered that the shafts are rusty and dry and in time will simply sieze up!

This is exactly what happened to Benjamin (Turbo 1098)'s dissy, it got rusty and must have ran dry for several miles and eventually just seized up.

The fix:
There is a mod you can do to get some oil into there, it involves grinding away a slot on the outer shaft of the dissy and drilling a hole right through to the shaft. Of course you have to dismantle the whole thing and take the shaft out to get it done. Graham also recommends your oil it up and grease it up as much as you can, needless to say.

I will be pulling my dissy out doing this mod before putting it in the car. Graham says unmodded, it will last some time before it does seize but it will eventually do it as it was designed to be flooded with oil...

Don't thank me all at once Call graham and he will do this mod for you while he fixes the curve on the dissy at the same time! Ph graham on 9630 2195

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Thanks mate for the heads up... Im sure many people will be saved from a breakdown from this..

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If it cant be fixed with a hammer it cant be FIXED!!

Thanks for the tip. I will take a look at mine.

One of the faults with running a PCV breather system is that the engine is under a slight vacuum (assuming it is a good engine!) and the pcv will be pulling air in through places that you don't even think of, like the dizzy!

A friend of mine has had two distributors seize from lack of lubrication and that was with Lucas distributors. So if there is a slight chance that you can seize a Lucas distributor it would probably be a lot easier to seize a Pulsar one if the oil can't get to where it is needed.

Most distributors have a reverse thread or a scraper to keep the oil from getting up to the points and flooding them but there is a fine line between leaking oil and not enough oil.

What's the diameter of the shaft Chong?, I've got a ball race in my dizzy (it's not a pulsar though) and it may be another solution to the problem although you would need a lathe to machine the housing (or are good friends with some other ausminiers) to fit the bearing.

Daniel
PS - engine in yet?

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

Yeah the engines' in - in his garage!!
I had a sneak preview of the final item this morning as I helped him get it from grahams to his place. Apparently there are a few secrets I can't divulge

He has a distinct disadvantage in being able to fit it - the rest of the car is somewhere else!

KB

The last 3 Pulsar dizzys I've pulled apart were all fine, no rust- they had been assembled with HTB? or equivalent grease on the mainshaft and both bushes, also the advance plate where it runs on the mainshaft.

One of these came out of my 1310/1360 Mini, has been running in it for years and it's still fine.

I suspect some of these rusty ones (including Ben's, which I have here) may have been sitting for years in wrecking yards, and then bunged in a Mini without stripping and greasing.

if you are going to fit one, please take it apart and clean/grease first!!!

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Right if it has grease then it is modified aint it? Stock form it is no good, mod it or grease it up.

Engine back home, needs a few minor bits before it can go in. I will post pics up once I have it in relatively complete form

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Two of these had grease in, were straight out of Pulsars.
I've never taken one out of a Pulsar with oil on it, they do have an oil seal on the camshaft to keep oil out of the dizzy.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Yes this is because of the condition described above. In a mini the dissy sits above the oil line hence runs dry. A mini dissy works the other way around and has a slot to draw oil into the dissy

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

lillee: what curve you trying to fix up? excuse my stupidity if it's obvious!

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-doing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering,
and a few conversions:
13B Extend in a 1600
4EFTE in a mini ute (all slowly)

Advance Curve. The curve of ignition advance vs rpm. Each engine has different requirements but importantly the pulsar dizzy is way off what the A-series requires so has to be re-curved to suit, not every engine would be the same as the advance curve is a function of cylinder filling.

Cheers

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

Daniel's spot on. Read that link I posted on my first post. We discuss it thoroughly there

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Another reason not to put one of these in.

What would you know?

I've heard more bad than good about these... thats enough for me.

MR "I-know-more-than-you"