So the distributor has points in it but there is no vaccum advance how can i tell if there is some other mechanical advance built into it or if its just a dodgey distributor? its not picking up power under load like it should.

Thanks in advance.

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MINE:
1976 Clubby 1100, 266 Kent cam, slightly worked head. (awaiting paint)
1978 1275LS Hi-Ho Silver with a Camtech 619 cam and some strange looking rockers

Easiest test is to take the Cap off and see if the rotor button can be rotated by hand a few degrees with the engine stationary of course and make sure it also springs and returns back to the original position.

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DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

He he...

yeah so it rotates a few degree and springs back to the original position.

here's some pics:

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MINE:
1976 Clubby 1100, 266 Kent cam, slightly worked head. (awaiting paint)
1978 1275LS Hi-Ho Silver with a Camtech 619 cam and some strange looking rockers

my dizzy was like that. only had mechanical advance but then I bought a new dizzy which had electronic ignition and vac advance. and holy moley it makes a difference having vac advance lol

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-Motor mechanic - Proud owner of a '76 Clubman S and a Ford ef xr6 manual

what sort of difference?? vacuum advance is for economy - IE it advances when there is vacuum in the manifold, IE when you're only lightly touching the accelerator. Put your foot down and it goes away

I think your "holy moley" is from the electronic ignition, and the dizzy not being worn out

I also bet your new fangled dizzy also has mechanical advance.
So-called `vacuum advance' is only a part throttle economy device. it has no other function. If you have a sporty cam with more than about 270° duration, it won't work anyway.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.