Lucas Points, Triumph TR6, Aftermarket Parts Quality Strikes Again....

[wings&wheels]

A few months ago, our TR6 started to ever so slightly stumble on acceleration. It became progressively more noticeable, so I guessed it was the points closing due to deposits with that probably caused by the not that old condenser. Replaced the condenser, filed and set the points and all was well, meanwhile ordering new points. I order a 'premium' generic set and an OEM Lucas set.

Opened the Lucas set and what you see below, nice contact alignment. I ordered through a well know specialist supplier and I know they will make good, but this is really getting frustrating. You can get almost every critical part new for the old Brit stuff, but a lot of it is utter crap. I love the old Brits, but the German cars are just so much easier to own....

 

[Chris142]

Lucas going gack to the prince of darkness thing?

Q: Why do english men drink warm beer?
A: Lucas makes refrigerators too

 

[TheLastWord]

Perhaps 2025 will be the year that a condenser will be finally be called a capacitor.......... which it is.

But I doubt it.

Was that from Moss Motors?

 

[Bailes1992]

Parts for the Defender are exactly the same.

I replaced the entire windscreen wiper mechanisms (cables and spindles) around 18 months ago and they're shot already.

Power steering pump was replaced with a Bosch unit 2 years ago and that's failed.

Rocker cover gaskets only seem to last a year.

I bought new rear light assemblies and the side/brake lights have melted.

It seems unless you buy genuine Land Rover, you're going to be replacing everything regularly. The thing is, genuine LR stuff is often 10x the price.

 

[barryh]

Parts for German stuff can have similar problems. Replacement points for my BMW motorcycle can also be poor quality with the heel being so big it was impossible to set correct timing. Fortunately I found some original new old stock ones which are perfect. With a points ignition booster fitted there is no wear on the contacts and I already have 28,000 miles on them. With another set on the shelf they will easily last me out.

 

[hrv]

Parts for German stuff can have similar problems. Replacement points for my BMW motorcycle can also be poor quality with the heel being so big it was impossible to set correct timing. Fortunately I found some original new old stock ones which are perfect. With a points ignition booster fitted there is no wear on the contacts and I already have 28,000 miles on them. With another set on the shelf they will easily last me out.

On my 1975 R60/6 Many years ago I updated it to a electronic ign...got rid of the points...

 

[drtyler]

Here is a good capacitor / condenser:

https://www.mgexp.com/forum/buy-sell-and-trade-forum.42/bulletproof-condensers-for-sale-new.4795746/

These points and rotors are thought to be of good quality:
https://www.distributordoctor.com/distributor-points.html

 

[Egg_Head]

 

[Trav]

It is not just Brit and German aftermarket stuff that is going down the tubes, NGK/NTK, Denso, etc are putting out some real crap too.
The old NGK made in Japan does not seem to exist any longer.

 

[Geekhead]

A few months ago, our TR6 started to ever so slightly stumble on acceleration. It became progressively more noticeable, so I guessed it was the points closing due to deposits with that probably caused by the not that old condenser. Replaced the condenser, filed and set the points and all was well, meanwhile ordering new points. I order a 'premium' generic set and an OEM Lucas set.

Opened the Lucas set and what you see below, nice contact alignment. I ordered through a well know specialist supplier and I know they will make good, but this is really getting frustrating. You can get almost every critical part new for the old Brit stuff, but a lot of it is utter crap. I love the old Brits, but the German cars are just so much easier to own....


View attachment 244703

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You could try a points triggered electronic ignition, I used these on all my points ignition cars so there was no points material wear. Only set gap for cam wear once in a while.

 

[wings&wheels]

It is not just Brit and German aftermarket stuff that is going down the tubes, NGK/NTK, Denso, etc are putting out some real crap too.
The old NGK made in Japan does not seem to exist any longer.

Sad... I haven't been bitten by anything for the BMW or P'cars yet, but I have heard similar especially about Bosch. I generally stick w/ OE wherever available as paying the $$ for OE, while painful, is generally the least expensive choice in the long term.

 

[wings&wheels]

You could try a points triggered electronic ignition, I used these on all my points ignition cars so there was no points material wear. Only set gap for cam wear once in a while.

Thanks and I agree, but this car is absolutely original even down to its complete emission controls system.

 

[wings&wheels]

Parts for the Defender are exactly the same.

I replaced the entire windscreen wiper mechanisms (cables and spindles) around 18 months ago and they're shot already.

Power steering pump was replaced with a Bosch unit 2 years ago and that's failed.

Rocker cover gaskets only seem to last a year.

I bought new rear light assemblies and the side/brake lights have melted.

It seems unless you buy genuine Land Rover, you're going to be replacing everything regularly. The thing is, genuine LR stuff is often 10x the price.

Oh yes...learned that the hard way with a smoking fuel solenoid (boiling diesel us generally not good), brake drum screws that sit proud of the drum and a wiper/wash switch that I had to install for inspection and failed the following week... I do stick to OEM where available.

For the rear lights, as the original old 'bee hive' ones weren't available here from LR when I needed them, I enlarged the plug holes and used the later beehives. Good quality and look the same from outside the truck.

 

[wings&wheels]

Perhaps 2025 will be the year that a condenser will be finally be called a capacitor.......... which it is.

But I doubt it.

Was that from Moss Motors?

Hi, no...BPNW.

The loss of Roadster Factory hurts.

 

[paulo57509]

Original Triumph, but can you stand to put this on the cam and rubbing block? I don't even know if they still sell this anymore.

 

[wings&wheels]

Original Triumph, but can you stand to put this on the cam and rubbing block? I don't even know if they still sell this anymore.

Great find. I use a very small amount of a Dow Corning product that I researched years ago....