Diagnostic socket?

[bren]

Does anybody know the true purpose of the socket? It's the one with the cover that unscrews. My SD1 was previously a 2300 which now has a V8, however when I looked at mine the wires had been cut.

[john 215]

Hi,
I was a tech a BL,Austin Rover and finaly Rover dealership through the 80s and 90s. We could plug our Crypton engine analyser into it via a interface and could do ignition timimg (also had to put a additional probe in a housing if i remenber correctly ) and rpm.
Cheers John.

[ChrisJC]

Do yo mean down by the crankshaft pulley? (or at least, the wires go down there)

If so, that's to set the timing up.

Chris.

[ramon alban]

Does anybody know the true purpose of the socket? It's the one with the cover that unscrews. My SD1 was previously a 2300 which now has a V8, however when I looked at mine the wires had been cut.

There is a little nipple on the front pully that passes a sensor, nearby, that send a signal to the socket. the coil negative also goes to the socket so its possible for a custom analyser to measure the relationship between the actual ign timing (coil) and TDC (sensor) and to thereby make accurate adjustments..

I guess it would also be possible for the analyser to check the ferocity of each spark/timing from the dizzy to measure coil effectiveness.