Technical Help identifying starting issue

[pepita]

As a 16 year old apprentice back in 1969 I was fitting contact points etc. Just get the parts and we will talk you through it if you want.

I will take you up on this. One thing I did get right was my "preemptive" parts order at the beginning of the week:

• Capacitor made by MAGNETI MARELLI
• Set of breaker contacts, made by BERU.
• Distributor rotor
• Screw for breaker contact
• Insulator (Capacitor - distributor)
• Clamp/ring for distributor contact set

Sadly the delivery which was scheduled for yesterday (Thursday) was rescheduled to Monday by the courier...

I will go back to the car tomorrow to see if it can be fixed without the parts, perhaps it is just loose, not broken.

 

[bugsymike]

I will take you up on this. One thing I did get right was my "preemptive" parts order at the beginning of the week:

• Capacitor made by MAGNETI MARELLI
• Set of breaker contacts, made by BERU.
• Distributor rotor
• Screw for breaker contact
• Insulator (Capacitor - distributor)
• Clamp/ring for distributor contact set

Sadly the delivery which was scheduled for yesterday (Thursday) was rescheduled to Monday by the courier...

I will go back to the car tomorrow to see if it can be fixed without the parts, perhaps it is just loose, not broken.

From what I saw in your video the contact points spring steel part is broken, so I should wait for the parts. Just push the points open with your finger and you should see what I mean, the curved spring steel at top of video where it goes around and connects with the insulator block and wire at edge of distributor.
Incidentally, I suggest you take several pictures of the inside of the distributor as the most common fault people make when trying to fit new contact points is to put the insulating parts in the wrong order , resulting in the electricity going straight to earth , car not starting and if left on the coil overheats as well.
The second error often is setting the points gap with the points in the closed position, off the cam.
My advice re lubrication earlier is critical also as if cam is dry shortly after the fibre on the moving part of points wears quickly and the points close, again resulting in non starting.
Do not let any grease or oil get in between the actual contacts as you want a clean dry metal connection as points close.
On most English cars the points gap was 15 thousands of an inch, but I believe yours may be 18 thousands of an inch, it will run with either but I am sure there are many who will give you the exact measurement. Sorry I don't work in metric as tooooooo old.
Post us for details if unsure.

 

[pepita]

From what I saw in your video the contact points spring steel part is broken, so I should wait for the parts. Just push the points open with your finger and you should see what I mean, the curved spring steel at top of video where it goes around and connects with the insulator block and wire at edge of distributor.
Incidentally, I suggest you take several pictures of the inside of the distributor as the most common fault people make when trying to fit new contact points is to put the insulating parts in the wrong order , resulting in the electricity going straight to earth , car not starting and if left on the coil overheats as well.
The second error often is setting the points gap with the points in the closed position, off the cam.
My advice re lubrication earlier is critical also as if cam is dry shortly after the fibre on the moving part of points wears quickly and the points close, again resulting in non starting.
Do not let any grease or oil get in between the actual contacts as you want a clean dry metal connection as points close.
On most English cars the points gap was 15 thousands of an inch, but I believe yours may be 18 thousands of an inch, it will run with either but I am sure there are many who will give you the exact measurement. Sorry I don't work in metric as tooooooo old.
Post us for details if unsure.

Will do! This is the key part, right? https://webshop.fiat500126.com/en/f...ignition/set-of-breaker-contacts-made-by-beru

Hopefully arriving on Monday, but travelling that same evening so it will be a tight repair job.

Also got this and this, which might come in handy.

I also already received my feeler gauge, which has markings in metric and prehistoric imperial

 

[pepita]

Hey @bugsymike and @Mike1alike, some good news: I managed to successfully change the contact breaker and get it running!
On the first attempt, I made exactly the mistake you predicted @bugsymike "setting the points gap with the points in the closed position, off the cam". I adjusted again and vroom vroom, we were firing on all two cylinders.

Thank you both very much for your input and guidance. The 126 is back on the road and I am a lot less clueless about my distributor.

 

[Mike1alike]

Nice! Enjoy the rides!

 

[bugsymike]

Hey @bugsymike and @Mike1alike, some good news: I managed to successfully change the contact breaker and get it running!
On the first attempt, I made exactly the mistake you predicted @bugsymike "setting the points gap with the points in the closed position, off the cam". I adjusted again and vroom vroom, we were firing on all two cylinders.

Thank you both very much for your input and guidance. The 126 is back on the road and I am a lot less clueless about my distributor.

It's good to fix things and learn at the same time. Trust you did lube the bits I suggested, but not excessively.

 

[pepita]

It's good to fix things and learn at the same time. Trust you did lube the bits I suggested, but not excessively.

I did, absolutely. Thank you.

Now, the next challenge is that the brakes seem to have deteriorated over the winter to now be more of suggestion to slow down than anything more. But that's one for another day!

 

[bugsymike]

I did, absolutely. Thank you.

Now, the next challenge is that the brakes seem to have deteriorated over the winter to now be more of suggestion to slow down than anything more. But that's one for another day!

I used to say to my customers, "If a car doesn't start, it is a nuisance, but if it doesn't stop, it is dangerous !"
Older cars were never renowned for great brakes especially with drums and if you have been driving a modern car with brake servo , disc brakes and ABS, then there is a big difference, but it is well worth checking that they are working as good as they were when new.