MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
moss has new product
http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=66833
I have had almost every rotor I've bought from them in the last 5 years fail. Intermotor or Lucas branded, junk.
thus they have the new line.
BUT. Peter Caldwell has a non Intermotor rotor (i have several in stock) and as yet I've not heard of issues with these. branded "OEM" and apparently made in Italy.
if Peter sees this, comment? Others?
If you want a rotor that won't fail, and is guaranteed for 11 months, contact me off list.
Ok, I will ask. How does a rotor fail? What happens, or doesn't happen?
Paul
Many times the rotor "fails" because the distributor is worn and hammers it into the distributor cap.
They fail for many reasons, but the two main reasons are cheap materials that crack, arc and short out, and improperly designed rivets.
Moss's new rotor IS the OEM brand rotor. They're the same ones I sell for less than half that price.
Bad rotors are made of a more conductive plastic (lots of carbon in the mix) and the rivets tend to lift out allowing the brass contact to come loose. At that point they tend to hit the cap and chew everything up, or at least bounce around and make a mess. Any time the rotor terminal contacts a cap terminal, you get a misfire, so you can imagine the consequences. Its similar to having a bad condenser.
The failures I have had caused no damage whatsoever to the cap. the spark just passed thru the plastic into the central shaft and the fire went out. I've had it happen at idle and at 4500 rpm. All with the red-brown intermotor rotors. I carry an old, worn, original rotor in the emergency kit and that has gotten me home each time.
I buy my rotors from Peter Caldwell now.
Nice to see at least Moss offering the better quality one now. Does VB have it?
I have Schlemmer cap and rotor on my 79, much better quality than the older offerings from Moss. I'll be getting the same for the GT as soon as I get it.