Ok... I'll admit defeat. I did an awful lot of "internet based research" and repeatedly found contradicting information...

Would anyone like to suggest a suitable distributor, clockwise rotation when viewed from the base, that would give similar advance to the late ruby distributor. My special is circa 1959, so something readily available (ie not expensive) from that era would be ideal.
Thanks in anticipation!

Nick

Location: Essex

If you really mean crankshaft, you'll have too many sparks!!

Location: Richmond, Texas

Good morning Roger. The DK4A as fitted to Rubies was available in both clockwise and anti-clockwise orientation.
Regards
Stuart

Location: Staffordshire, the creative county

Austin 7 distributors are anti-clock when viewed from underneath.

The clockwise version of a DK4A is DK4. ie The 'A' stands for anti-clockwise.
I assume you'll drive it directly from the camshaft.

Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders

Nick,
I believe the DK4's fitted to Morris 8's were clockwise - I think the A7 is unusual in being anticlock. Another alternative is to fit clockwise weights to a A7 distributor, I think I've got a pair so this would fit your zero cost criteria. The plate with the holes that sets the maximum advance will probably need redriling but they're usually worn anyway and you can reset the figure to whatever maximum you want. You may also need a clockwise rotor arm so the overhanging bit with the arrow is correct. A Morris 8 series E distributor cap with the side exit leads would make them lie towards the top of the head.

Dave

Camshaft... I meant camshaft... did I say crankshaft? Thank you Roger...

Thanks Dave. I'll be in touch.

Regards
Nick

I would have to agree with Stuart, the 'A' designation applied to both Clock and Anti-Clock distributors. For example the 1934 to 1953 Morris Eight (that includes the Z van and side-valve MM Minor) were Clockwise distributors (i.e. in Lucas speak as viewed from below not above) using initially the DK4A then DKH4A and finally DKYH4A - I've owned a 1936 Morris Eight Tourer since 1973, so have some knowledge of Morris 8's. The Wolseley Eight 1946 to 1948 also used clockwise (viewed from below) distributors DKY4A. On Clockwise distributors the small black arrow on the riveted on alloy side plate will be pointing to the right or in the case of the alloy bodied distributors, the arrow will be stamped into the case.

I also have a Lucas catalogue which would appear to confirm this - i.e the Rotor Arm used on the Anti-Clock Austin 7 1935 to 1939 was Lucas 400052 and 405469 and the Rotor used on the Clockwise Morris Eight 1934 to 1953 was Lucas 400051 and 405468

As Dave has mentioned above the distributor bodies, bakelite base plates and top exit distributor caps are the same (Austin 7 1935 to 39 / Morris 8 1934 to 39) and interchangeable it's just the action plate & shaft, weights and rotor that differ. Not forgetting of course that the Austin 7 distributor is gear driven whilst the Morris 8 uses what Morris described as a drive dog. Both are merely mills pinned to the base of the shaft, so you will need to remove the Morris drive dog and replace with your Austin 7 drive gear if buying a Morris 8 distributor - don't forget the Tufnol thrust washer between the gear and the body .

Just to add to what Dave has already said - The Morris 8 1934 to 1938 and the 1939 Series E model used the steel distributor body with the brown bakelite base plate Lucas 400001 same as the Austin 7 1935 to 1939. The later post war Series E / Z van / MM Minor 1946 to 1953 used the alloy distributor body with the steel base plate with soldered on condenser Lucas 409613 and 418153.

The side exit distributor cap Dave mentions was Lucas 400316 on the 1939 Series E DKH4A and Lucas 409635 on the the later post war Series E / Z van / side-valve MM Minor's DKYH4A (alloy body / steel base plate with soldered on condenser).

On my old computer I have a table showing the differences in maximum advance between the Austin 7 Ruby and Morris Eight distributors, unfortunately the monitors bust so I can't use it at present.

Jeff.

Location: Almost but not quite, the far North East of England

HI Nick, Normally the rotation is specified looking down from the top as this is the view you will be looking at when installed and adjusting.
this will save Confusion.

Hope this Helps

From my copy of the Joseph Lucas Spare Parts list for the Austin 7 HP 1927-30 the Austin 7 distributor is designated Anti DJ 4 so I assume the same would apply to the Lucas DK4A. I think the 'A' would indicate automatic.

Jeff, you say -

"I also have a Lucas catalogue which would appear to confirm this - i.e the Rotor Arm used on the Anti-Clock Austin 7 1935 to 1939 was Lucas 400052 and 405469 and the Rotor used on the Clockwise Morris Eight 1934 to 1953 was Lucas 400051 and 405468"

From the Rotor Arms shown on the 'Vintage Motor Spares' website and a picture I have of a DK4A distributor I did think that the Rotor Arm for the Austin 7 Anti-Clock DK4A was a Lucas 400051 and the Rotor Arm for the Clockwise version would be 400052, but checking again with other websites I now think you are correct.

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Melbourne, Australia.

I'm confident that I'm correct Tony as my mid 1950's Remax Catalogue helpfully lists all those vehicles using Lucas Clockwise and Anti-Clock orientation distributors and their respective Rotor Arms. Distributor Models covered include DK4A, DKH4, DKH4A, DKY4A and DKYH4A.

Vehicles using Anti-Clock distributors and Lucas 400052 / 405469 Rotor Arms include:

Austin 7 1935/39 - 8 1939/48, - 10 1934/38, - 12 1934/46
Citroen 12 & 15 1936/55
Hillman Minx 1934/55, - 14 1938/40
Humber 12 1934/37, - 14 & Hawk 1940/55
Jaguar 1.5 1946/48, - 2.5 & 3.5 1947
Jowett 1936/46
Lea Francis 1939/52
Morris 10/4 1934/38
Singer 9 1934/51, - 10 & 12 1939/50
S.S. Jaguar 1939/40
Sunbeam Talbot 10 1946, - '80' 1948/50, - '90' & Alpine 1953/55
Etc. Etc. ............

The models DJ4, DJ4A, DJ6, DJ6A, DJH4, DJH4A are shown to be available in both Clock and Anti-Clock orientation.
On all of these models of distributor whether Clock or Anti-Clock the Rotor Arm is the same Lucas 401122 as it doesn't have the side extended brass inlay of the DK Rotor Arms and so is universal for either orientation.

The Austin models using the above DJ range of distributors:

Austin 7 1930/34
Austin 10 1932/33
Austin 12/6 1932/34
Austin 20/6 1932/34

I'm sure you're correct Tony, 'A' = Automatic, just as 'H' = side exit distributor cap and 'Y' = alloy body / steel base plate with soldered on condenser.

Jeff.

Location: Almost but not quite, the far North East of England

Jeff

Do you have a similarly comprehensive list of vehicles using clockwise rotating DK4A (or similar) when viewed from the base?

The anticlockwise list is interesting, but ideally I need one that advances when spun the other way.

Many thanks
Nick

Hi Nick,

Yes, hopefully later today I'll post a list of Clockwise vehicles for you, though as both Dave and I have mentioned, probably the most easily obtainable / affordable will be the DK4A / DKH4A / DKYH4A fitted to the Morris Eight Series I/II, Series E & Z and the 1948 to 1953 Issigonis designed Morris MM Minor - purely because they were mass produced cars and like the Austin 7 large numbers (relatively speaking) are still around today, so spares are reasonably plentiful.

Here's what is claimed to be a Series E DKYH4A on ebay at the moment, it's fitted with an incorrect top exit cap, easily changed for a side exit if required - I'd say it's a touch on the expensive side given that it looks particularly well used - I've seen much better on ebay, probably worth waiting for another to show up. If I were considering buying it, I'd ask for a photo showing the flat side of the body to confirm that the stamped in arrow is pointing to the right and is therefore definitely Clockwise - it's showing a clockwise rotor, but that could have been changed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-8-series-E-Distributor-/142001237021?hash=item210feeec1d:g:vx4AAOSw71BXQaT6

Jeff.

Location: Almost but not quite, the far North East of England

See! I knew it was mounted on the crankshaft (well kind of!)



thanks Dave!

Location: Essex

Hi Nick,

Sorry for the delay - list of vehicles using Clockwise (viewed from the base) DK4A, DKH4A, DKY4A, DKYH4A and DKZ4A distributors and Lucas 400051 / 405468 Rotor Arms as promised.

Austin A30 - 1953/55
Austin A40 & A50 - 1948/55
Austin 16 hp - 1946/48
Austin A70 - 1948/55
Bradford Vans - 1951/54
Bedford 5/6 cwt Van - 1940/48
B.S.A - 1934/40
Ford Popular - 1953/55
Ford Anglia - 1953/55
Jowett - 1939/53
Landrover - 1954/55
M.G. - 1937/55
Morris 8 - 1935/48
Morris Minor MM S.V. & early Series 2 with A30 O.H.V. - 1948/55
Morris 10 - 1938/48
Morris 12 & 14 - 1938/39
Morris Oxford - 1948/55
Morris 5 cwt Van - 1940/55
Morris 10 cwt Van - 1938/55
Morris Cowley - 1951/55
Riley 1.5 & 2.5 - 1953/54
Rover 10 & 12 - 1935/36
Singer Roadster - 1952/55
Singer SM1500 - 1949/55
Standard 8 & 10 - 1939/55
Standard Vanguard - 1953/55
Triumph Mayflower - 1951/53
Triumph 2000 - 1949/50
Triumph Renown - 1953/55
Vauxhall 10 & 12 - 1940/48
Vauxhall Wyvern - 1948/55
Wolseley 8 - 1946/48
Wolseley 10 - 1935/40
Wolseley 12 - 1936/48
Wolseley Four Forty Four - 1953/55

These are the more common vehicles, I haven't included the likes of Allard, Alvis, Bristol Tractors, H.R.G, Lanchester, Morgan etc.

Jeff.

Location: Almost but not quite, the far North East of England

Fantastic, Thanks Geoff

It was the A30 that threw me when I tried to work it out for myself. I'm guessing the AS3 must have used the DK4A? The Lucas chart I looked at referred to the A30 having a clockwise distributor and the A35 having an anticlockwise one. My A30 van was a little later, and I vaguely remembered the distributor was not dissimilar to the A35 van I also owned... but that was a while ago! I wonder if at some point someone decided to reference the rotation from the rotor not the base? Certainly the 60's distributors seem to be referenced that way...

Now where's that broken Ruby nose cone?!

Location: Essex

have a look at 7 county austins website/ £100 bargain