ajslacker Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I have an 85 Brat that isn't getting spark. New plugs, new plug wires, new ignition coil, new disty cap and rotor. I pulled out the distributor and noticed the distributor shaft has about 1/8 inch vertical play and 1/16 horizontal play. Is that too much on both sides? Do I need to replace the whole distributor? Could that be why it doesn't start? Any info is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 That sounds like an awful lot of play. Maybe just bearings, I don't know the EA81 well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naru Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Maybe slightly too much play,but,that won`t be the reason for no spark. Got power at the coil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajslacker Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 I believe so. How do i check? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee2 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I believe so. How do i check? https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+check+power+at+coil&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajslacker Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 Alright i'll check tomorrow. I showed my shop teacher the movement in the disty and it does move enough side to side that blades of the piece that rotates hits the pieces of metal on the top. He said it might be enough to make it spark incorrectly and not start. No contradicting what you all said, just saying what he thinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 (edited) Does the distributor actually turn when you crank it over? The reason I ask is because I worked on a Brat EA81 recently that had the distributor drive gear on the crank all chewed up. This caused a no start - no spark situation. Edited October 18, 2017 by Crazyeights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajslacker Posted October 18, 2017 Author Share Posted October 18, 2017 Yes it does turn. I checked it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 If the vanes are hitting the pickup, the bushing is shot and it's not going to fire. It has to have an air gap to work properly. You can get it re-bushed if needs be, but you do need to check for power at the coil and the leads on the dizzy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajslacker Posted October 18, 2017 Author Share Posted October 18, 2017 Ok I will check for power at the coil tomorrow and found a refurbished distributor. Is this the right distributor for an EA81 Hitachi carb/distributor Brat? I ordered a cap and rotor from them before and it didn't fit, so I don't want that happening again. https://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts/MC/322-07003437.html?utm_content=MC&utm_term=1981-1987+Subaru+Brat+Ignition+Distributor+A1+Cardone+31-810+81-87+Subaru+Ignition+Distributor+1983+1984&fp=pp&gbm=a&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ff&utm_campaign=PartsGeek+Google+Base&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1JbPBRCrARIsAOKj2PlvvW9CSahNkLg2xXQaYVXN60mdBpujE9aQP1vnTaB1NL4LYb2Sy2IaAkxCEALw_wcB&ad=47584901292 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Scott Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 The Hitachi is the one you want. For some reason, the EA81s came with two different distributors. Hitachi on the 4WD and Nippondenso on the 2WD. Don't ask me why, I think it was political. The Hitachi's had a problem with bushing wear, mostly attributed to the oil grooves in the shafts gumming up from neglected oil. I used to rebuild these myself, and had a machine shop making the bushings. The Hitachi electronics are extremely robust, and I have yet to see one fail. The Nippondenso's had no bushing problem, but the electronics would wink-out with no warning and leave you walking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajslacker Posted October 18, 2017 Author Share Posted October 18, 2017 Ya I don't know why car manufacturers do that kind of stuff. So the one i have a link of is right? Just to be sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 A lot of failures don't show up for years. They can be hard to predict. It's not always them trying to be cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajslacker Posted October 18, 2017 Author Share Posted October 18, 2017 No I understand that, I'm talking about doing two different kind of distributors/carburetors for the same engine is kinda dumb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Scott Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 If you think that's dumb, do some research on GM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Scott Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Yes, the one in your link is right. And just to elaborate on the differences, The Hitachi only had a vacuum advance. The ND had a vacuum advance/retard. Either manufacturer could have provided both. That was the only practical difference between the two, and either will work with just a difference in advance curve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Maybe one was more available, or they decided one worked better or emissions regulations forced a change. Just guessing around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bratastick Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 I ordered a rebuilt one, it had the wrong trigger mechanism even though it said it was correct. Ordered a second, same problem. I ended up using my old electronics. The rest was good and what I needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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