Removing an m20 distributor cap?!

[320Touring]

Hi peeps

was doing a check of the sparks and ht leads etc on my m20 2.0 today, all went well apart from getting the dizzy cap off....

managed to get the top and bottom bolts off ok, but the one at the lhs (facing the front) I just cant get off!

I've tried spanners, ratchets with extension, rachets without extensions, swearing, not swearing etc.

its too tight for me to get my hand between the fan shroud and the coolant pipes..

can anyone help me please?!!?

thanks in advance!

Neil

[Martinaston]

Try putting the other two back in and tightening them up then remove the problem one first. Or do you mean you just cant get to it, in which case loosen the fan shroud and move it towards the back of the car and drop it over the fan or lift it staight up and out if you can. That should give you a bit more room. If that don't work then look for some new tools or the rad comes out.

[Andy_magic]

I found that a 1/4" ratchet with a short extension bar and a deep 8mm socket was just the job for getting the dizzy cap off mine.

I did involve turning the fan while undoing the bolts but I got there in the end.

[johnono]

neily mate! i did this a coulpe of weeks ago and my hands are still recovering the 2 facing u as u stand over the rocker cover are easy enuff, but that little bastard at the back had me for 2 hours

in the end i just shoved my hand between the radiator pipes and such, and done myself up againt the fan like a kipper.. focus the chi and all that

i hadnt got the tool i wanted.. basically a long armed rachet wrench with a phillips head (medium breadth) and got to it from the other side and pressed in the bit from the first side (rocker cover side)

peice a piss after that... my quetion though, Htf did u get that black cover off without freakin out???

[Brianmoooore]

Save checking the disributor cap/rotor arm untill it's time for a coolant change, then whip the radiator out. Makes an arkward job into an easy one.

[320Touring]

brian-the coolant is getting done on friday...

johnono thanks for the tips dude!top drawer as always!

Martinaston-i may indeed try removing the fan shroud-thats whats preventing my hand getting in there!

thanks all!

[alan325i]

the first one i did was not fun either, dont know when it had been replaced before i did but one bolt came undo no probs, one sheered off, then the other was seized.

Had to take rad out and drill them out in the end what was ment to take 5 mins turned into a half day job oh and alot of swearing.

Have fun

[johnono]

howԚ´d it go then neils!

[chief]

changed mine 2 months ago and took the radiator out (simple enough) but the foresaid mentioned bolt (little batsard) snapped its head off. after breaking the faulty distributor cap to get it off to get at the snapped bolt i then finally manged with lots of WD40 and oil and grilla grip to undo it it came out eventually.
don't tighten the new one too tight like i did. snapped the head on the new bolt. still waiting to drill the new one out and fit new bolt.
what a drama , now i know how frank spencer feels