Lucas 181D distributor

From memory (not always reliable!) I dont think the copper strip actually secures the capacitor . But provides an electrical contact to the points.  Its perfectly Ok to fit an external car type capacitor to the outside of the housing and as a bonus it may be preferable to a very old stock (NOS) of the orriginal pattern which are often a bit suspect. If you were to add a cheap points assist box then the capacitor is redundant anyway and spark much improved along with some other benefits , timing light etc.

I'd like to know more about this box, Robert and does Al Oz supply them?

Gammatronix do a great spark assist kit that does away with the capacitor.  It's a well priced tiny unit that can be easily hidden away and helps to give a fat spark.  Negative and positive earth available.

Both Boyer and pazon do what you need , I have one of each.  Boyer is prob cheapest. Check voltage and polarity , might need to be 12v

Hi. Just went to their site and for £34 found a 12v positive earth power-drive equivalent. Goodwick. Hugh

It's a gammatronix 12v black top with positive earth.  Not Goodwick where that came from goodness knows. Good luck. 

Check that it has a timing light, very usefull.

Dear Members,

I have just fitted a Gammatronix 12V positive earth “black box” to my 1960 ES2 on the advice of an AJS owning neighbour who has had one for some 12 months now. I was unable to find an original Lucas replacement condenser and was intermittently troubled by ignition problems as a result. One hundred miles after the installation my difficulties appear to have evaporated. It is important that decent points are installed at the time of conversion and that the old condenser is removed.

All clear so far…..

Anthony Bolton

Thought I would post a photo of my Gammatronix “black box”. It took about 20 minutes to install most of which time was spent soldering the correct connections to coil, earth and LT lead. 
Ignore the date on the Toolstation battery, which also works very well.

Anthony Bolton

Dear Members,

I too have dealt with Distributor Doctor and found them very helpful. In fact I ordered my replacement points from them. However with regard to condensers, on my particular machine, Lucas part number 41278, they have proved to be almost impossible to find (see attached photo), because of its particular length. The standard replacement is part number 54410823 (in middle of photo) which is difficult/impossible to fix under the copper bracket.

Hence my conversion to Gammatronix.

Anthony Bolton

Just a quick question regarding the condenser. Im replacing the points in my 18D1 fitted to my Model 50 and suspect the condenser is on its way out. 

Should I leave the old condenser in place - (I dont want to dismantle the distributor to remove it)
and fit an external condenser to the coil ?

Or remove the copper bridge to the condenser and fit an external car type to the coil terminal ?

I might go down the gammatronix route but thought Id try the condenser first.
Thank you

...then the condenser is connected to the points, so replacing the points you can easily remove the condenser and use the assist version above or mount the new condenser on the out side of the 18D1. Do not leave the old condenser in side as if it is shorted then it will STOP all spark.

The condenser works with the points. That is why on 50s and 60s cars (and bikes) the condenser is mounted with the points. If you mount it remotely ie with the coil it works but not its best ie the points suffer(burning) So mount it on the distributor right by the points for best results (you can leave the points/condenser wire disconnected)