Jarrad,

My suggestion would be to check that the new distributor shaft & dog can actually fit into the BMC distributor drive spindle(part no 12G4499, with helical drive gear on the end that meshes with the camshaft).

If you have a spare drive spindle this should be easy to do, and you should see the dog teeth fitting closely but easily into the drive spindle, with no clearance between the face of the drive shaft and the distributor (ie sitting flush).

If you don't have a spare spindle then you can take the one in the engine out, but be careful to not drop it into the gearbox when doing this... You need to remove the outer casting (single 1/4 bolt), there is a 5/16 UNF threaded hole in the shaft, fit a long bolt into this and then remove. Spindle should come out easily, refitting can be a bit fiddly but main thing when refitting spindle is to check that the dog cutout is in the right place (refer to workshop manual).

^^ that's what I reckon...



just a thought, if you mark the engine (distributor mount boss thingy) as you pull the drive spindle out, (IE when it's flush with the top of the hole) you can put it back where it came from. Just don't let the engine turn over

otherwise refer to the workshop manual and get it in the right spot before you pull it out

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Before taking the drive spindle out, why not first do what I suggested earlier. Measure down the hole to the surface of the drive spindle, then measure the shaft of the distributor you are trying to install. If the lengths are the same then it's probably the dimensions of the two dog ears that's the problem (ears too long and bottom out in the slots, or too thick and don't fit snuggly in the slots).

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Just compare it to the one that came out of there originally

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Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

Hey so I tried fitting the new dizzy into a spare spindle , the old dizzy just drops straight in same as it does in the car , the new one will only sit flush if I force it in I also measured those ear parts of the new and old distributor , the new one are about 1.5mm longer than the old dizzy the actual shaft is also slightly longer than the old dizzy .

Old dizzy


New dizzy


So surely they will have to replace it with one that fits easier? They shouldn't expect me to just force it in right?

Not ideal, but I would simply swap the drives over.

By the time you send it back, and pay for the freight its probably not worth getting wound up over.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

exactly... that's utter bullsh*t - them telling you to force it in or file down the drive dog shows that they must know it's a problem.

From the looks of it, you've been filing the sides of the drive dog, rather than filing it to make the bits that poke out shorter. That drive dog would be throwaway now, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the standard dog doesn't suit

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

If you post your issue on Minisport's facebook site i am sure you will get a very good result.

Are you sure you have the distributor in the right way. Looks like it is sitting out by the full depth of the Dogs. Might be 180 deg out regardless the fact you have already had it running. Drive dog might be 180 deg out. If it goes in the other way just swap leads across to suit or remove roll pin and spin Cog around half a turn. I sold and fitted heaps of these Distributors and never had this problem.

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

one way won't go in at all and the other will only go as far as you can see in the photos unless I really force it , Im going to take it back to minisport tommorow and they can have a look in person

Have you done any measuring to see where the difference lies?

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

The new distributors shaft is slightly longer than the old one and the ears are about 1.5mm longer and ever so slightly wider than the old one I guess just enough for it not to fit properly