MG Magnette KA Instruction Manual page 37

as follows :-When t h e contacts are fully opened, slacken t h e locking n u t o n
t h e stationary contact screw, and rotate it by i t s hexagon head until t h e gap is
set t o t h e thickness o f t h e gauge. After making t h e adjustment, care must be
taken t o tighten the locking nut.
The centre spindle o f the high-tension distributor carries a
"
Bakelite
"
arm
called the
"
rotor."
I t can only
fit
o n the spindle one way.
If
this part is removed
(it simply pulls off) it affords an excellent thiefproof device, b u t care should be
exercised t o see that
it
does not become chipped o r i n any way damaged, not t o
mention lost after it has been removed. The ends o f the high-tension cables are
secured by means o f pointed contact screws which pierce the rubber insulation
t o make good contact w i t h t h e cable strands, at the same t i m e securing t h e cables
tightly i n the terminals. The screw heads are located o n the inside o f t h e distributor
moulding.
The automatic advance device, which consists o f a centrifugal governor, is
housed i n the distributor body.
It
i s packed w i t h grease before leaving t h e W o r k s
and needs n o attention beyond very occasional lubrication.
Occasionally remove
the distributor moulding by pushing aside its t w o securing springs.
See that t h e
electrodes are clean and free from deposit.
I f necessary, wipe o u t t h e distributor
w i t h a d r y duster and clean the electrodes w i t h a cloth moistened w i t h petrol.
Clean the outside o f t h e moulding, particularly t h e spaces between t h e terminals.
N e x t examine t h e contact breaker ; it is important t h a t t h e contacts
"
C
"
are
kept free f r o m any grease o r oil. I f they are burned o r blackened, they must be
cleaned w i t h very fine emery cloth and afterwards w i t h a cloth moistened w i t h
petrol. Care must be taken that all particles o f d i r t and metal dust are wiped away.
Misfiring may be caused
if
the contacts are not kept clean, o r by any o f t h e following :-
I.
D i r t y sparking plug (correct plug gap 20/1000 inch).
2.
Cracked porcelain.
3. Bad connection t o high-tension leads.
4. Bad connection f r o m high-tension distributor t o coil.
5.
Improper adjustment o f make-and-break points.
6.
D i r t between make-and-break points.
7.
Defective coil.
These causes exclusively deal w i t h t h e electrical side.
There is one o t h e r
remote cause o f electrical failure, namely bad earth contacts f r o m the battery t o
t h e frame. O t h e r causes o f misfiring can be attributed t o carburetter and improper
valve adjustment, the latter having been already dealt w i t h on pages 23-24.
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