1975 Renault 6TL

[demag]

Ha just checked on the bay. Loads of R6 condensers listed.

[Zelandeth]

Condensers really aren't that model specific and the value isn't all that critical. Most that have failed on me have actually either gone electrically leaky or completely open circuit, at least on my Skoda Rapid which used to eat them for a passtime for some reason I never got to the bottom of.

The bit that's most likely to be model specific is the actual terminals which are attached to it to allow it to connect up - with a bit of care you can probably cobble something together that will work just fine between a known good one for another model and the one you have. Sure I've got a few rattling around in the garage somewhere...

This thing is so close to running now! If I wasn't at the other end of the country (I think...) I'd be more than happy to lend a hand. I'm a bit lost dealing with Xantia electrical gremlins, but this sort of nuts and bolts machine I'm much more at home with!

[demag]

Yes pushrod engines and simple electrics. What more could a man want? [emoji3]

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[ekjdm14]

Does the manual have any procedure for setting the static ignition timing? usually you connect a test lamp to the coil supply & note when it switches off against a mark on the crank pulley. This would ensure the ignition timing is close enough to run & get a strobe on it, or the "advance it till it kicks back, then ease off a tad" technique also works, as mentioned.

Definitely make sure the condenser is good, another sign of a duff one (as well as a weak spark at the plugs) is a huge spark at the points as they open. usually there's a little flash/pop as they open but anything more violent and it's likely the condenser at fault. For the price it's good practise to replace them whenever you're in under the dizzy cap, as well as carrying a spare, extra points and tools to change both, in the car. Also, electronic ignition conversion kits are likely still available but that's less fun lol

Close now, so close... Just need Doris (the storm, why name the things?) to vacate and you'll have it running.

[RichardW]

Yes, I think static timing out - one of the pages you posted half of finishes with the words 'Connect the lamp' this is probably telling you where to start.

[vulgalour]

A few days ago I lost my temper with this, in part because Storm Doris was raging in my ear while trying to set things up. I have decided, for the very short term, to walk away from this for a few days while I wait for a few parts to arrive. I've ordered a new throttle cable to replace the broken bits on mine so I can operate the accelerator from the pedal and a new matching set of points, condenser, rotor arm and distributor cap after checking the part numbers on the Ducellier distributor.

Did you know, there's an Austin application for this distributor with identical looking points that are mirrored? There's also about four different types of points available for the 6. I just hope the pictures in the listings are accurate!

Oh, and my brand new early Renault 5 radiator arrived which looks like it just needs some slightly modified mounting brackets sorting to fit it since I've been totally unable to find a supplier of a proper R6 radiator for the past 3 years.

In the meantime, since I finally got someone to come out and pump my suspension up which is the last big job, my attention has been diverted by something decidedly British that I've owned for five years. Really very close to going for an MoT now, just chasing a fuse-blowing electrical gremlin mostly.

[demag]

Yes Ducellier became quite a universal fitment. I'm fairly certain they were used on the Metro and probably more.
Good luck with the Ambassador/Princess.

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[CitroJim]

I like the princess

Yes, Ducellier was used on the Metro. I remember it well...

[demag]

That sounds like a bad memory Jim.

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[Zelandeth]

Never had any issues with it on either of mine...Well...Save for slicing my knuckles to ribbons on the radiator fins changing the distributor cap anyway.

[CitroJim]

That sounds like a bad memory Jim.

You know, I can't now recall which was worse - Joe Lucas' finest or the Froggy one

I always hated setting points and when contactless electronic ignition came along I was very happy...

In a Metro I always used to remove the whole dizzy to set the points; easier in the long run and a lot more accurate...

[demag]

My pet hate on the A series engine? Tappets. I ALWAYS bashed my knuckles doing them. Blood and oil over the rocker shaft.

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[CitroJim]

My pet hate on the A series engine? Tappets. I ALWAYS bashed my knuckles doing them. Blood and oil over the rocker shaft.

Was it Gunsons who used to do a nifty tool for setting tappets? I was Ok with them - tedious but I didn't hurt myself too much..

My pet hate was the cork rocker cover gasket and praying it would be oil-tight after doing the tappets

[ekjdm14]

I think it was Gunson that did that, think there was one that had a "one click = one thou' " kind of device and another that was just a ring spanner attached to a screwdriver kind of arrangement.

Like Jim, I never found the setting of tappets to be the issue, it was getting the rocker cover to not leak afterward. My own pet hate, aside from the leaks, is the location of the SU float bowl such that if it ever overflowed it would drip straight onto the exhaust manifold... It used to worry me so much I used a cut-up pot noodle pot and a length of wire as a makeshift catch tank just in case! (it always used to warn me when the float was overflowing by refusing to idle properly anyway so I didn't need the cloud of vapourised petrol to tell me).

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

just a mention, doesn't the early 2.2 Princess with the B series lump have an unusual claim to fame in being the only production car with a Transverse 6?