The magical " unadjustable " Distributor....

          

Im at the end of my tether with this one.

Odd misfire throughout the rev range - worse under load.

Changed the HT leads, rotor, cap, swapped the coil for another one,  checked the points ( spot on ) done a compression test, all the earths are good, checked the main jet in the carb, the electric cut off on the carb is ok, the inlet manifold/carb gasket is ok also.  

WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE….               

Any advice/tips would be great as I've had enough.  :dontknow:

Could  be an intermittent electrical fault.

Have you checked the fuses for any corrosion ?
What about the igintion barrel - these can go faulty.

You could really do with getting an oscilloscope on the low tension side of the coil to see it you are getting good firing pulses - that would rule out the electrical side.

When my brother, a few years ago, had this on his mk1 it turned out to be a burnt valve. Compression checks did not show it, I thought that they would of.
It would run ok but would feel as though it was misfiring sometimes and had lost the smooth running it always had, it was also worse under load.

Taking the head off revealled a badly burnt valve  - we were lucky with this one as a quick removal of the head and a new valve lapped in sorted it out.

Forgot to add his was a 1.1

as above could be a burnt out valve try a a cylinder leakdown test and compression test to see if you get anything from that. i'd also make sure your dizzy is working properly as if the advance is knackered it can cause problems like this. same for any of the vaccum hoses make sure there not split or clogged up as they will also affect the advance retard. have you checked the points and condensor? the points on the gf engines are very sensitive to the gap if there a tiny bit out can cause similar symptons.

if i think of anything else i'll let you know  

rustys_mk1 said

as above could be a burnt out valve try a a cylinder leakdown test and compression test to see if you get anything from that. i'd also make sure your dizzy is working properly as if the advance is knackered it can cause problems like this. same for any of the vaccum hoses make sure there not split or clogged up as they will also affect the advance retard. have you checked the points and condensor? the points on the gf engines are very sensitive to the gap if there a tiny bit out can cause similar symptons.

if i think of anything else i'll let you know  

I swapped the condensor out as well, I did think about the advance being fecked, I seem to remember changing the advance unit  on this dizzy many moons ago though…….or was it the dizzy itself - can't remember…haha…

Hang it all then, has anyone got a spare dizzy FS !?!?

i do lol. problem with it is the one of the brackets on the advance vaccum unit has snapped away could probably be fixed but not sure  :dontknow: .

i'll take some pics so you no what i mean and post them shortly.

Pics would be great man ! thanks.  

Right, I've now changed the dizzy for one I forgot I had ( from the other golf sitting in my garage - doh )

Anyhow, misfire sorted - hurrah, but only briefly.

Obviously at this stage you would set the timing, which I attempted to do, sadly though, I don't seem to have enough adjustability in the dist. to get the mark on the bottom pulley to line up properly - its far too advanced ! ( revs nicely though   

Any ideas ? Im sure the dist in in correctly, and the cam timing I've quadruple checked…  :dontknow:

sounds like the valve timing could be a tooth or two out - on my son's 1.3, there is plenty of adjustment on the dizzy

NigelO said

sounds like the valve timing could be a tooth or two out - on my son's 1.3, there is plenty of adjustment on the dizzy

Well thats was my inital thought, several checks later and Im certain that its correct, not sure what else it COULD be though…   

have you got the vacuum advance disconnected while timing it up? also did you put it in with the rotor arm facing the right way as it could be 180 degrees out? only say that as i've done it before…  ops:

rustys_mk1 said

have you got the vacuum advance disconnected while timing it up? also did you put it in with the rotor arm facing the right way as it could be 180 degrees out? only say that as i've done it before…  ops:

you can only fit the dizzy one way round   i thought ??

i kow on my gf code lump the dizzy slotted into the end of the cam with a "tooth" sort of thing but it fits in either way round figured the rest of the 1.3 lumps were the same. easy way to tell is to put it to top dead centre and the rotor arm should point to the front of the car/no1. lead.

rustys_mk1 said

i kow on my gf code lump the dizzy slotted into the end of the cam with a "tooth" sort of thing but it fits in either way round figured the rest of the 1.3 lumps were the same. easy way to tell is to put it to top dead centre and the rotor arm should point to the front of the car/no1. lead.

Indeedy, will try when I get home - athough I was SURE it only went in one way, we shall see !!

had any luck with this?

Haven't touched it mate, lost heart at the moment, not often I can't mend things, but this has me totally stumped….

Had a play earlier, same state of play, is there any way I can set the dizzy further round ?? there seem to be some other bolt holes ??

Any joy mate??

DJ said

Any joy mate??

Ha !! No…..can't find anyone to sell me any points either - off to midnight motors later - Im running out of cars to borrow ……

Gold repairs should start as soon as green is mended also.

Gold-mk1 said

Gold repairs should start as soon as green is mended also.

Good News  8)

Gold-mk1 said

DJ said

Any joy mate??

Ha !! No…..can't find anyone to sell me any points either - off to midnight motors later - Im running out of cars to borrow ……

Gold repairs should start as soon as green is mended also.

you can't get any points? seems strange  :dontknow: . i know gsf stock them but i tend to get them from my local spares place normally has to order them in but there within half a day.