Lude Generation

I'm hoping someone can help me figure out what I've done please and if there is an easier option that pulling the crank pulley and covers off to check this. (It was a pain in the arse last time)

So I took my distributor off to replace the seals I'm going to call this distributor 1. When I started to take it apart the wiring pretty much disintegrated, the plastic outer casings were deteriorated. It was history. No problem I thought as I have a spare that came off my last engine, I'll call that distributor 2. So I took distributor 2 apart, it was all clean, wiring was good, shaft seemed to spin ok (they're both a bit notchy but I think this is due to the magnets) they don't spin so that they will spin on their own but they seen to turn freely. So I replaced the seals on distributor 2, put it back together and put it back on the car.

Started the engine. Big rattle coming from the distributor.

Took the distributor off, everything seemed ok, tried again, same. So I thought maybe the bearings in the distributor had gone even though they looked ok.

I knew that distributor 1 worked fine before I took it off, so I dismantled distributor 2 and rebuilt 1 with 2's electrics.

Put that back on, fired it up. Rattle rattle

Cam cover off, cam belt tension looks ok.

I've had a similar rattle before when the auto tensioner failed and the cam belt came loose. I fitted a manual tensioner.

Is there anything else I can try or consider before I step the side down to check the tensioner? Have I missed anything?

And how on earth had changing the distributor caused the tensioner to fail?

Nb timing is lined up ok.

Swap to distributor 3 - e.g buy or borrow another one

Then retest.

As Drax said, you preferably need one that is a known working one to make sure. Dizzy's are a weak point on Lude's so I wouldn't be surprised.

Thanks
Well I took the covers off and the cam belt tensioner was fine. So I guess I'd better look for a distributor.

I have one (I think!) came off a low mileage Gen 5.

I will take some pics today and send, so you can be sure its the right one. Do you have an email address as I am advised putting pics on here is a pain! You can send via PM.

What's your location?

Pete

So when I put it all back together it's fine. In fairness, I did nip the timing belt tensioner up a bit, even though it didn't seem bad at all. So I guess it was a loose timing belt again.