Help - I think i've broke my distributor

As part of the ongoing maintenance I got a new distirbutor cap and rotor arm (RTC3197 & STC1857).
When changing the rotor arm the old on pulled up a a cm or so, so when I put the new arm on I just pushed it back down.
Fitting the cap was a right pig as it didn't seem to fit properly, I could only get one clip on. Tried to put the old cap back on and it relented after some grunting. Connected all the leads back up, then when it came to start it just sparked once then didn't bang again.
Took the leads and cap off and the rotor arm seems to have been scraping the contacts on the cap. Compared the old rotor arm to the new one by inverting it and the metla bit seems about 1.5mm too long. So I put the old arm back on.
Now its not starting at all and I can see the ditributor waggling slightly as the engine cranks.

I have read on other forums that the balance weights can be disturbed if you oull the rotor arm up (just like I did). How can I check this out, does it involve taking the dizzy off completely?

Any advice would be most welcome. Its snowing outside as well

A Wiggle on the distributor is not good. Dont keep tuning the engine over it means somthing inside has come loose and is jammed inside. Make a refrence mark on the block and distributor(scratch a line with screw driver) and the rotor arm to the outer casing. Remove it and examine it carfully turn by hand and look for any boken or bent parts. Or It may have come loose alowing it to wiggle. Replace with all marks lined up and cheque any pipes going to it.

Dizzy is now out, looks striaght, the only bit that wiggles is the keyed part on the end, and I think thats supposed to and its got a pivot.
I can turn the rotor freely through about and 1/8th of a turn the it clicks into something, there is no spring return or anything, there is a little grommet on the side where i can see a mechanism. When you turn it around.

I'm stuck what to do know, do I look at the dizzy or put it back and hope it works

here's a picture for what ts worth

Just put some tube on the vacuum advance and sucked it and all it does is pull air through, it doesn't hold vacuum and doesn't move. So it looks like this needs replacing at least
Haven't got any small circlip pliers so that'll have to wait tomorrow, got plent at work for putting turbos together.

ive never had much success moving the advance by sucking on the tube either. certainly not to hold it. not enough suck obviously? so dont worry too much about that.
you prob need a proper vacuum source to do it.

the clicking noise is more worrying though? maybe the centrifrugal weights are shagged?

Stripped the dizzy at work and found that the springs on the centrifugal advance had come off, everthing else is OK

Have just finished rebuilding it and ready to put it back in.

Only problem is that the spindle rotated when it was pulled up and could be 60 degrees out as the centrifugal bit had rotated around and the weights had flung out. So it looks like i'll have to rotate the engine around to top dead centre so I can align it back into the engine

Ah well you live and learn and I don't need a new distibutor ££££

long time since i did one. but think it was number one cylinder at tdc, with both rockers rocking. then point the rotor arm to number one plug lead.

leave the disi slightly slack/loose and adjust whilst its running to get the best power. tighten the clamp bolt.
take a test drive and adjust if required.

edit...
check with timing light if necessary. shouldnt be far out though.

Just put it back on on what I thought might be the right orientation but no joy, so i'll have to find number one cylinder at tdc

How do I check that both rockers are rocking easily, is it possible to rotate the engine by hand (with plugs out) and watch the timing marks on the pulley and stop when the #1 cylinder is at the top of its compression stroke?

Thanks for the advice ormus.

Here these might help.

sent pdf attachment may have been to big let me know

Bobmar

Haven't seen any pdf files yet

the timing marks can be a full revolution out, due to it being a four stroke engine see?
so check its at the firing point by seeing the 2 rockers are rocking by clicking them with your fingers (at tdc). they should rock just slightly.
easier to do it than expain it. its fairly obvious when its on the wrong stroke.
if it is then just rotate the engine by one full turn.

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what, youve got felicity kendals phone number?

All is fixed.

Got a mate around so I could lay under the engine to turn the crakshaft pulley and he could tell me when it was compression stroke and at 6 BTDC. Put some new plugs in and leads on and started first time.

Can go and play for the rest of the weekend now.

Thanks for all the help.