The following sequence of photographs portray the subtleties of how to correctly install the clips on a Lucas 45DM4 distributor cap.
This information is applicable to the Lotus Esprit and Excel when fitted with the Lucas "constant energy system" that has an inductive pickup instead of conventional contact breakers.
The first photograph (left) above shows the distributor cap is secured but the clip is not postively retained by the V-shaped lock tab.
The second photograph (centre) above shows the distributor cap is secured but the V-shaped lock tab has been completely removed.
The third photograph (right) above shows the distributor cap has been unfastened and the retaining clip has been hinged away from the cap.
The first photograph (left) above shows the distributor cap with the retaining clip and V-shaped lock tab removed.
The second photograph (centre) above shows the distributor cap with the clip being offered up to the alloy body.
The third photograph (right) above shows the distributor cap with the retaining clip being installed into its recessed casting location.
The centre photograph above shows the V-shaped lock tab that is used to prevent the distributor cap clip from exiting the casting location.
The above photographs show the distributor clip fully engaged with the cap.
The V-shaped lock tab is simply inserted through the clip and into the housing where it should be pressed home with a small screw-driver.
The above photograph shows a close up shot of the V-shaped lock tab correctly installed so the retaining clip cannot slide out of its location.
Foot note - Julian Goldacre in Western Australia has kindly pointed out there is another way of installing the bottom distributor clip without removing the distributor. This can be achieved by undoing the clamp and then rotating the distributor body to where the clip is in a more accessible position.
"You can put the clip on without the need to remove distributor by 'assuming the position' and sliding on.
I found this quite easy especially with the workshop we did at your place :)
The screw driver attempt failed repeatedly even after we removed the air intake ducting to get a better view as opposed the the 'Braille method'.
What we noticed was the clip straightened out easily which was of concern.
We bent back into the curve but the damage was done.
The last time we tried after rotating the distributor counter clockwise to enable fingers to do the walking was when it clipped on the sound was a light click not a solid sounding clunk-click, when compared the the top clip, have a try with the one I will send you back compared with the new clips, a very distinctive sound difference." J.G. 13-11-2012
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques
This information is applicable to the Lotus Esprit and Excel when fitted with the Lucas "constant energy system" that has an inductive pickup instead of conventional contact breakers.
The first photograph (left) above shows the distributor cap is secured but the clip is not postively retained by the V-shaped lock tab.
The second photograph (centre) above shows the distributor cap is secured but the V-shaped lock tab has been completely removed.
The third photograph (right) above shows the distributor cap has been unfastened and the retaining clip has been hinged away from the cap.
The first photograph (left) above shows the distributor cap with the retaining clip and V-shaped lock tab removed.
The second photograph (centre) above shows the distributor cap with the clip being offered up to the alloy body.
The third photograph (right) above shows the distributor cap with the retaining clip being installed into its recessed casting location.
The centre photograph above shows the V-shaped lock tab that is used to prevent the distributor cap clip from exiting the casting location.
The above photographs show the distributor clip fully engaged with the cap.
The V-shaped lock tab is simply inserted through the clip and into the housing where it should be pressed home with a small screw-driver.
The above photograph shows a close up shot of the V-shaped lock tab correctly installed so the retaining clip cannot slide out of its location.
Foot note - Julian Goldacre in Western Australia has kindly pointed out there is another way of installing the bottom distributor clip without removing the distributor. This can be achieved by undoing the clamp and then rotating the distributor body to where the clip is in a more accessible position.
"You can put the clip on without the need to remove distributor by 'assuming the position' and sliding on.
I found this quite easy especially with the workshop we did at your place :)
The screw driver attempt failed repeatedly even after we removed the air intake ducting to get a better view as opposed the the 'Braille method'.
What we noticed was the clip straightened out easily which was of concern.
We bent back into the curve but the damage was done.
The last time we tried after rotating the distributor counter clockwise to enable fingers to do the walking was when it clipped on the sound was a light click not a solid sounding clunk-click, when compared the the top clip, have a try with the one I will send you back compared with the new clips, a very distinctive sound difference." J.G. 13-11-2012
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques