How's this for Italian reliability!

jazig.k · March 25, 2015, 12:27:27 PM

I've been driving like this for god knows how long because I've never checked it till today...

Any idea what happened? I think I'll but a new rotor. Cap looks good still though. Should I just get a new one too?

LaStregaNera · March 25, 2015, 03:21:11 PM

Pffft, it's not like the other dizzy wasn't working or anything.

jazig.k · March 25, 2015, 04:09:47 PM

As it seems common, I can't find anywhere local than stocks or even lists the rotor arm. Bosch no longer make the arm either so won't send one to and distributors.

Edit: Scratch that, not even from Australia anyway. Sent of to EB spares [just as cheap actually]. Would rather support the Alfa crowd if it's coming from OS.

105gta · March 25, 2015, 09:40:18 PM

Haha Italian reliability?? That's why they gave you 2!

VeeSix · March 26, 2015, 12:06:20 AM

Seems to be a 75 Twin Spark thing.

aggie57 · March 26, 2015, 01:44:59 AM

ah....the famed Single Spark 2-litre appears again. Mysterious, confusing, intriguing.......many many wiser men that we have sought to uncover it's secrets before it fades away again below the deep waters of that remote Scottish lock.....some say it has no fear of failure, some say it has a spinning heart of gold, all we know is it's called....the dizzie!

GTVeloce · March 27, 2015, 02:09:00 PM

The originals were glued on and a bugger to get off the first time.

I had a coil go once and just removed the main HT lead from the coil to the dizzy until I could source another. I can't say I noticed much difference with everyday driving running on one plug.

Darryl · March 28, 2015, 05:07:02 PM

Quote from: GTVeloce on March 27, 2015, 02:09:00 PM
The originals were glued on and a bugger to get off the first time.

I had a coil go once and just removed the main HT lead from the coil to the dizzy until I could source another. I can't say I noticed much difference with everyday driving running on one plug.

Agreed re one plug being ok (ish). In fact, iirc (the owner may want to correct me but I got this from the tuner at the time) a certain RACE twinspark produced more power if it was running on 1 plug not 2 (no dizzie involved on that motor).... Just don't ask...

And oil leaks into that dizzy are common - which turns into oil + grunge buildup - which conducts/arcs/turns into carbon which conducts... which is bad... Almost certainly worse than not spark.

All that said, a few years back you could by the arm + shaft as an assembly (I did, can't remember who - it could have been EB but I tend to work through locals first - who may no longer have any of course - possibly The Spares Place?). The shaft seal (see above re oil leak) tends to fail/enough wear/movement accumulate so that replacing shaft may be needed to stop the same thing happening again.

colcol · March 28, 2015, 08:51:53 PM

I was told once that the 2nd spark plug is to clean up the emmisions.
Years ago on a dyno day they did a run with the 8 plugs working, then they disconnected one set of plugs and it made the same power, but there was a lot more smoke, unburnt emmisions coming out of the tail pipe, it was on a 75, which was then a new car, Colin.

AR753.0ltr · March 30, 2015, 10:51:41 AM

My cousin got some rotor buttons a couple of months ago from Italian Automotive Spares in Brunswick East, they support the club as well. Nice blokes to deal with. Needed a new clutch for my 75 V6 and they had the correct one complete with flywheel.
They had them in stock, Domenic that works there was telling my cousin he owns a 75 TS too and stocks most parts for them.

I'd be surprised if you tried them Jazig.k and the didn't have them in stock.

LaStregaNera · March 30, 2015, 12:03:25 PM

Perhaps given the fact it's been like this for a while the title should be "How's this for neglect?"

jazig.k · March 30, 2015, 05:12:30 PM

Quote from: LaStregaNera on March 30, 2015, 12:03:25 PM
Perhaps given the fact it's been like this for a while the title should be "How's this for neglect?"

Trying to taking a shot keyboard warrior?

Everything on it seems original after 260,000 km. I'm only touching things up as I go because I don't have the budget that others have. What the car looks like is that someone looked after it visually [kept it clean inside and out] but never got it serviced or had just basic filter & fluids services. I do have the service books in the glovebox... Might check when the last service was done for interests sake

jazig.k · March 31, 2015, 11:28:19 AM

You guys are gonna be so proud of me! New rotors and caps all fitted up. Second rotor arm was Bocsh part, maybe original? was glued in place with the same colour glue of the first.

The car drives exactly the same. I don't notice any thing better or worse with both rotors. I'll monitor the fuel economy to see if that changes [Regular unleaded returns me 7.1lt/100km every week if I drive responsibly].

Oh and surprise time! I also fitted a new radiator! Last one in stock Australia wide and never to be made again by the supplier. No other suppliers list the 75 [Brother worked at a radiator place so did the searching for me].

Service manual/folder. The little folder is complete. Has everything in it like owner manual, dealer guide, accessories book, sunroof guide [inc. warranty etc]. Perfect condition.
The service coupon book has been filled out from 0km to 25,000km by Paul Skewes in Broadmedow, then up to 100,000km by R.A. Kent in Orange, then finally up to 148,000km by Automoda in Five Dock.
A few random stamps through the pages for serviced that don't have a place in the book [Every 5,000 or 10,000 km].
Body work page stops at 101,000km at R.A. Kent.

Divano Veloce · March 31, 2015, 12:53:14 PM

I have noticed that the TS will tolerate 91 octane fuel with all 8 plugs firing but will ping if theres a problem with one or more plugs.

LukeC · April 01, 2015, 03:26:48 PM

QuoteThe car drives exactly the same. I don't notice any thing better or worse with both rotors. I'll monitor the fuel economy to see if that changes [Regular unleaded returns me 7.1lt/100km every week if I drive responsibly].

Is the car set up (with the fuel quality plug) to run on 92, 95 or 98 octane? I always used to set them up for 95 (closed loop) before the higher octane brews were available, and it made a difference. I did run a series of test a while back on my GTV, but totally stock TS engine with 200,000 km on it:

The green line is how they were dilivered to Aus (92), the red is set for 98, blue is a Hong Kong set up (origin of the donor vehicle) and black with a BBR superchip.

I now run 11:1 comp on the BBR chip with 98 and it does not ping.