[T3] T-3 Distributor

[Jim Adney]

On 10 Mar 2014 at 8:22, rheorojo at F wrote:

> Just got back from Az. and was driving the squareback on errands when
> it just died!! Got it home and popped the distributer cap to find the
> spring clip holding the ball bearing had broken. (Blah) Replaced the
> distributor and it fired up. I saw the condenser arcing to the
> distributer housing. (Will replace that tomorrow). I presume that
> signifies the condenser has failed. I also noticed that one
> distributer has a small braided copper wire soldered across the
> advance plate to the base, while the other ( the one that broke )
> doesn't. I'm hoping that the one is an easy fix, and I can't figure
> out why they aren't identical. They both have the same # and end with
> "AH". I have a 73 auto. Jim, let me know what I should strip off and
> where to send it if it's repairable. The spring clip is all that broke
> and I have the ball bearing. Once I get past this I'll be back
> cogitating about why I have poor mileage. 

Glad you made it home before this happened.

AH is correct for a '73 FI AT. Sparking from the condensor to the 
body is probably just from the wire to the body, meaning the wire 
must be cracked or pinched there. The condensor itself is probably 
fine. The braid should be there; I can replace it. I should be able 
to replace the spring clip, depending on the style (2 versions.)

The best thing to ship is the complete distributor without the cap, 
rotor or clamp, unless you're not sure if you have the right cap. 
Include the ball bearing and I'll reuse it if possible.

I strongly recommend Bosch condensors, caps, and rotors. They cost 
more but are much more reliable, so they will long outlast the cheap 
aftermarket parts, making them cheaper in the long run.

-- 
*******************************
Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*******************************