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Produced by the Talbot Owners’ Club 1
4 Talbot Ignition System
The Talbot Manual Technical Resource
Ignition System
Bill Barrott & Martin Bryant
This publication has been produced by the Talbot Owners’ Club Ltd. in good faith, and the information contained
therein does not necessarily reflect the views of the Club or Officers, who cannot be responsible for loss or damage
for work carried out or actions taken by members, based on these contents.
Produced by the Talbot Owners’ Club 2
4 Talbot Ignition System
The Talbot Ignition System
General Description
The Talbot uses a conventional battery, coil and distributor system to fire the spark
plugs. This is a highly reliable system, easy to maintain and having excellent starting
performance.
The Distributor
The distributor is a Delco type driven by a skew gear off the camshaft and rotating in
a clockwise direction. It has two sets of points, one controlling the front three
cylinders and one the rear. This means that in addition to correct point gaps it is vital
that the sets of points are synchronised with each other. Advance and retard is
automatic via spring controlled bob weights in the base of the distributor. Lubrication
of the bearings is via a cup greaser on the side (turn every 500 miles). The cam is
lubricated by a felt pad which requires a few drops of oil once or twice a year.
Routine maintenance consists of setting/changing points and lubrication. From time to
time it may be necessary to replace condenser, rotor arm, cap and leads.
The distributor showing cap and
leads. Condenser is under
distributor body. Greaser on the left
Cap removed showing rotor arm,
cam and twin points
Rotor arm removed showing
felt pad. Oil sparingly from
time to time
Remove base plate by
removing two spring clip
screws
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4 Talbot Ignition System
Base plate. Remove points by undoing
marked screws (red arrows). The upper
and lower screws on the right hold the
base plate and should not be touched
A new set of points. It is
necessary to saw off the
square lug on the fixed contact
New fixed contact in place.
Note adjustment screw
Setting the gap to 18 thou
using adjustment screw
Automatic advance and retard
weights and springs. Check for
breakage or seizure
Condenser. Replace as
required. Carry a spare
Interior of Delco cap. Check
carbon button and brass contacts
Exterior of Delco cap showing impaling
spikes. Seal cable exits with silicone to
prevent water ingress
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4 Talbot Ignition System
Synchronising the Points
The two point set up of the Delco-Remy distributor means that the points have to
open in synchronisation to get optimum engine performance. The first three cylinders
are controlled by the set of points which are fixed to the base plate. They are adjusted
by slackening the distributor pinch bolt and moving the distributor body. The rear
three cylinders are controlled by the set of points that are moveable on the base plate.
They are adjusted by slackening the two retaining screws and moving the eccentric
screw.
Start by making sure both sets of points are gapped at 18 thou. Set number one
cylinder at TDC on the firing stroke. The scribed mark on the flywheel should line up
with the pointer on the rear of the engine block. If in doubt of your timing marks
remove the rocker box and check position of the valves. Using a bulb check that the
points break as the timing marks coincide. If this is not the case adjust by slackening
pinch bolt and moving distributor body. Now rotate engine until number six cylinder
is at TDC on the firing stroke. The other set of points should just be breaking. If they
are not, adjust by removing distributor cap, slackening two screws on the base plate
and rotating the eccentric screw. The points are now synchronised.
Modern distributor cap with
push in leads
Modern ignition components and
part numbers
Checking TDC at the valves. Inlet and
exhaust pushrods rotate
Slacken base plate retaining
screws prior to adjustment.
Adjust by rotating eccentric
screw
Set dynamically using strobe
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4 Talbot Ignition System
This process can be done dynamically using a stroboscopic timing light. Connect this
to a separate 12V power source and clip to plug lead 1. Run engine at idle and check
that the timing marks line up. If there is any discrepancy adjust by moving distributor
body as previously described. Now attach to plug lead 6 and repeat for the other set of
points. Adjust by moving the base plate as previously described. The timing pointer
on the Talbot is hard to strobe and it is easier to transcribe a TDC line to the flywheel
and line up against the chassis member.
Other Ignition Parts
Plugs should be gapped to 25 thou and checked as part of the regular service routine.
Use copper grease on the threads to aid removal. Replace when worn.
Coils require no maintenance and work until they stop. Modern coils have a poor
reputation for reliability so carry a spare.
Strobe lead attached to plug lead
1
Transposed timing mark. Easier to
line up on chassis member
The correct NGK plug: AB6 (gap to 25
thou)
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4 Talbot Ignition System
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