POWERMAX 45D STANDARD ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR

FITTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR RELIANT ROBIN / RIALTO

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The following article is a " How To Guide " compiled by Pete Wallace on how to fit a Simonbbc POWERMAX 45D STANDARD ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR into a Reliant Robin / Rialto .

The bulk of this article will also apply to Reliant Kitten etc with the 45D distributor as well as other makes of vehicles .

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DISTRIBUTOR AND COIL INFO and LINKS TO THE CORRECT DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEMS FROM SIMONBBC

FOLLOWING FOR USE WITH A STANDARD 12V COIL ; STANDARD POWERMAX ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR ONLY

Click Link HERE for the STANDARD POWERMAX ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR version which is perfect for the points coil or the Lucas sports coil DLB105

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STANDARD POWERMAX ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR and COIL BUNDLE

Quote from simonbbc ;

{ This is the Standard Bundle Deal page for the Reliant with either the Powerspark coil which I recommend or the Lucas DLB105. Now both of these are for a non ballast system so we recommend bypassing or removing this ballast when fitting our coils.}

Click Link HERE for the STANDARD POWERMAX ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR version and Lucas sports coil DLB105 bundle

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More info on alternative manufacturers coils at my website page at

https://sites.google.com/site/fifersrelianthintsandtips/coils

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A wee look at the Simonbbc Powermax 45D Standard Electronic Distributor

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Latest version of Simonbbc electronic distributor showing lobes which I found made it much easier to set up compared to the older versions .

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PRIOR TO FITTING THE ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR

Rare faults and remedies

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While most owners will have no problem and the distributor will fit straight into the engine , when I went to fit the distributor , I found that the distributor would not fit into one engine block but it did fit in 2 other engines ! ! .

Other owners have reported this as well and it seems to be a Reliant problem in that the Reliant engine block distributor holes might be a few thou undersize .

The joys of owning a Reliant ! ! !

However, it is easily rectified as per info below and , once fitted , the distributors give sterling service .

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{1 }

If the distributor is too wide to fit into the distributor hole in the block it is an easy fix and only needs very gently sandpapered to fit .

Remove the “ O “ ring before sandpapering and remember and clean all the filings / dust off , then replace the “ O “ ring .

{ 2 }

One method to remove the excess metal is to wrap emery cloth / wet,n,dry sandpaper around the section between " A " and " B " then grasp the cloth in one hand and rotate the distributor backwards and forwards with the other hand .

IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING SANDING ;

Only remove a tiny bit at a time .

Make sure that you clean all the filings off prior to inserting distributor into engine

Keep checking the fit in the engine block distributor hole .

Remember to carefully refit the " O " ring .

{ 3 } While the bulk of the simonbbc distributors will fit direct from the box first time be aware that the slots in your Reliant engine distributor drive might have a wee lip on them and , since the simonbbc distributors have square edges on the drive dogs , might stop the distributor sliding easily in .

{ 4 } Easy enough fix by Carefully and Gently filing/Dremeling the square edges to a slight chamfer to make it easier to locate in slots .

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PRIOR TO FITTING THE ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR

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I would recommend that you set up the engine in the best position with the original points in place prior to fitting the Simonbbc Electronic Distributor.

{ 1 } With the rotor arm pointing at number 1 cylinder { the one at the front of the engine }

{ 2 } Set the engine statically at the 10 degrees Before Top Dead Centre mark on the fan belt pulley .

{ For other Manufacturers Makes of vehicle please amend as per your vehicles own static setting }

{ 3 } Remove the vacuum pipe from the original distributor .

{ 4 } Remove original distributor at the wee bolt clamp to engine .

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THINGS TO CHECK / DO ON THE

SIMONBBC POWERMAX 45D STANDARD ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR PRIOR TO FITTING

{ 1 } Check that there is a gap at all 4 lobes

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{ 2 } The clamp supplied with the Simonbbc electronic distributor has the clamp which is turned upwards .

If you use the clamp supplied with the Simonbbc Powermax 45D Standard Electronic Distributor you will need to fit a washer between the clamp and the engine block .

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO FIT A WASHER ,

THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO USE THE CLAMP

FROM YOUR ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTOR .

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{ 3 } LINE UP THE CLAMP

{ 4 } GENTLY TIGHTEN THE CLAMP BOLT JUST ENOUGH TO HOLD

BUT STILL ABLE TO TURN THE DISTRIBUTOR AS PER FOLLOWING VIDEO ;

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FITTING THE POWERMAX 45D STANDARD ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR

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{ 1 } REMOVE THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP

{ 2 } FIT THE POWERMAX 45D STANDARD ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR LOOSELY IN THE ENGINE BLOCK THEN SET THE CLAMP TO THE BLOCK TO THE MIDWAY POSITION IN THE SLOT

{ 3 } FIT AND TIGHTEN THE BOLT.

{ 4 } REMOVE THE ROTOR ARM

{ 5 } ROTATE THE ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR BODY TILL THE LOBES LINE UP WITH THE LINE ON THE PICKUP

{ 6 } TIGHTEN THE SIDE CLAMP BOLT

{ 7 } REFIT THE ROTOR ARM { NOTE THE LOCATING PEG }

{ 8 } MAKE SURE THAT THE ROTOR ARM IS FULLY DOWN

{9 } FIT THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND HT LEADS

{ 10 } REFIT THE VACUUM PIPE

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WIRING

Wiring For the Powermax 45D Standard Electronic Distributor as mentioned in DISTRIBUTOR AND COIL INFO section above it is recommended by SIMONBBC that you do not use a ballasted coil but should use a straight 12v coil

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The following method enables you to revert back to a ballasted system at a future date .

Wiring Stage 1 ;

IGNITION SETUP WITH BALLAST COIL AND STANDARD 45D DISTRIBUTOR BEFORE MODIFICATION .

{ 1A } Remove the wire coming from the distributor at the NEGATIVE { - } side of the coil { Marked { A } on above drawing } and keep it handy to re- attach to new coil if required.

{1B }

Remove the wires going to the POSITIVE { + } side of the coil { Marked { B } on above drawing } and tape/blank them upso that the live ends cannot touch anything .

Now tie them up out of the way

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Wiring Stage 2 ;

Remove coil and replace with a High performance straight 12v coil .

The following link will give a list of part numbers ;

https://sites.google.com/site/fifers...t-12-volt-coil

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Wiring Stage 3 ;

Make a new feed wire with a SINGLE FEMALE on one end , which will attach to the POSITIVE { + } side of the coil , and a PIGGYBACK CONNECTOR * on the other side of the wire which will attach to the Fusebox .

{* A PIGGYBACK CONNECTOR is just a name for a connector to which you can attach another wire . This means that you can supply/receive power to 2 wires from the one terminal }

Piggyback connectors are available from many companies including ;

Vehicle Wiring Products Ltd.

9 Buxton court,

Manners industrial estate,

Ilkeston,

Derbyshire,

DE7 8EF.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Telephone: 0115 9305454 Fax: 0115 9440101

E-mail: Sales@vehicleproducts.co.uk

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

The connectors are shown on the Non Insulated Terminals page at the following May 2013 link ;

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/section.php/72/1/non-insulated-terminals

The following is the extract from the May 2013 link above ;

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http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/445/piggyback-connector

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Alternatively you can use Stationary Blades on the fusebox as per ;

SBC 2 into 1 terminals

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/449/stationary-blade-2-into-1

or SBD 3 into 1 terminals

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/450/stationary-blade-3-into-1

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Wiring Stage 5 ;

Now attach the original WHITE WIRE to the piggyback connector you have just connected to the fusebox .

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Wiring Stage 6 ;

Attach the SINGLE FEMALE end of your new wire to the POSITIVE { + } side of the coil

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Wiring Stage 7 ;

Attach the RED wire coming from the new ELECTRONIC distributor to the POSITIVE { +} side of the coil

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Wiring Stage 8 ;

Attach the BLACK wire coming from the new ELECTRONIC distributor to the NEGATIVE { - } side of the coil

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Wiring Stage 9 ;

PHOTO OF HOW THE FINISHED WIRING SHOULD LOOK .

MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE COIL WHEN THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED OFF

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Wiring Stage 10 ;

Make a copy of your new wire and carry it as a spare .

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You have now bypassed the ballast system and you now know that the power is coming direct from the battery via the ignition switch .

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NOTE ;

If you wish to return to the original ballast setup it is very simple .

Since everything is visible and easily got at , it is just a case of ;

{ 1 } Removing the new wire ;

{ 2 } Reconnecting the original white power wire to the fusebox ;

{ 3 } Disconnecting the new wire from the distributor at the negative { -} side of the coil ;

{ 4 } Replacing the standard 12v coil with a ballast coil ;

{ 5 } Removing the tape from the original power wires from the harness

{ 6 } Reconnecting from the original power wires from the harness to the Positive { + } side of the ballast coil ;

{ 7 } Reconnecting the original wire from the distributor at the negative { -} side of the coil .

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SET TIMING WITH A STROBE

If You Do Not Have a Strobe You Can Do The Following

{ 1 } With the engine running get it up to full working temperature .

{ 2 } Stop the engine and slacken off the side distributor clamp just enough to be rotated by hand

{ 3 } Start the engine and rotate the distributor body very slowly by hand backwards and forwards till the engine runs fastest .

{ NOTE 1 ; BEWARE THE ROTATING FAN ! ! ! }

{ NOTE 2 ; WEAR THICK RUBBER GLOVES TO AVOID SHOCK FROM THE HT LEADS ON THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP ! ! ! }

{ 4 } Stop the engine

{ 5 } Tighten the side distributor clamp bolt

Note the position of the spring clip .

It will possibly be much further away from the engine block compared to a normal Lucas points distributor and , due to the new position , I found one extra wee benefit is that access to number 2 plug is better .