Well, I finally had the chance to pull the cap off my 1989 560 SEL 's distributor and I believe that it is the original! The car has less than 90K on it, but the clear plastic cover for the distributer was yellowed, crazed, and was falling into the mechanical parts to the distributor. The cap and rotor were in pretty poor shape as well. Here is my question: Upon closer inspection of the fly-weights, it appears that I only have 1 spring were it appears that I am supposed to have two for the fly-weights. My book does not have the distributor in it, so I am at a bit of a loss. Can anyone here tell me if the spring missing on the other half is critical to the continued operation of the car? Should I stop driving it until I get new parts?

Thanks,

Andy

Only the Germans would be so thorough.

At first glance one might think flyweights equalled centrifugal timing control, BUT IT DOESN'T. The timing is map created to the conditions that exist. The spark is formed and the distributor's job is to get it to the right terminal of the cap. You will notice a very wide rotor tip and a large diameter cap (terminals widely spaced). To anyone else (and to all MB's built after, M103 for example) that would be enough, but MB had added a cent. advancement of the rotor position to maintain the gap in a similar position and length as the timing changed. If it didn't the rotor would be in a different position relative to the terminal when fired.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Thanks for your observations. But, do I need the second spring or not? Although the mass is slight, it seems to me that not having the spring in there would not be a good thing. It is not like the Germans to have something NOT counterbalanced.

Respects,

Andy

No, you only need one spring.

__________________
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Saved another trip to the dealer. You guys are great.

Respects,

Andy