'41 distributor cap

[TomC750]

How does one separate the two parts of a 1941 distributor? Looks like the key is the "pin" in the center, but I don't know how to remove it. Need to get the wires removed prior to sending it to Charlie for a tune-up. Tried to send a pic as well, but our lousy internet could not cope with it right now.

 

[corvette8n]

I just unbolted my whole distributor from the car and sent it to Charlie. See the pics I found on this website. This one has the remote coil setup.

 

[TomC750]

I just unbolted my whole distributor from the car and sent it to Charlie. See the pics I found on this website. This one has the remote coil setup.

Corvette8N, OK, looked at the pics, noticed that the plug wires are disconnected from the distributor caps. This is what I am trying to accomplish, but do not know how to get the wires out.

Tried again to attach a pic, it times out. Frustrating - No good internet available here!

 

[Fritz]

Slide the wire bails off and you can pull off the dome caps.

 

[TomC750]

Slide the wire bails off and you can pull off the dome caps.

That is NOT the problem! If I could manage to attach a pic it would be evident that I have the caps off but not the wires out of the caps. This is so frustrating to get across my problem without a pic. I sent a pic of my car to a friend, but for some reason my pic attachment on this site this site is not working. My upload is a pathetic .25 mbps! And that is why it times out.

 

[TomC750]

I think at this point I will snake the wires out of the metal conduits, wrap up the wires with attached caps and send the whole works to Charlie.

 

[TerryOH]

The center post of the outer cap passes through the inner cap. On the inside of the inner cap there is a rubber O-ring holding the two caps together. If the rubber has turned hard cut it off.

 

[38 coupe]

Sometimes the outer caps stick in the distributor housing. If that happens take the coil off the top and gently tap the caps out using a wooden dowel, a screwdriver handle, or similar. Frequently the easiest disassembly is to get the caps off the distributor, pull at least one side spark plug conduit, then pull the distributor from the engine.

Terry described how to separate the outer cap from the inner cap.

When putting things back together if there is any combination of new inner cap and/or rotor then check for the rotor hitting the caps. About 1/3 of the time I have to file one or more of the brass cap studs for clearance since something hits.

 

[TomC750]

The center post of the outer cap passes through the inner cap. On the inside of the inner cap there is a rubber O-ring holding the two caps together. If the rubber has turned hard cut it off.

Terry, thank you. I did figure it out this morning. I assumed that the rubber ring was just a seal. I looked in my "Green Bible" to see what the ring was called, a retainer. Ahah! I worried it out with a small pic. The ring is fresh as new. I do have to do the other side but wanted to respond ASAP. Thank you.
I do have to say the Greene Bible is worth its weight in gold!

 

[TomC750]

Sometimes the outer caps stick in the distributor housing. If that happens take the coil off the top and gently tap the caps out using a wooden dowel, a screwdriver handle, or similar. Frequently the easiest disassembly is to get the caps off the distributor, pull at least one side spark plug conduit, then pull the distributor from the engine.

Terry described how to separate the outer cap from the inner cap.

When putting things back together if there is any combination of new inner cap and/or rotor then check for the rotor hitting the caps. About 1/3 of the time I have to file one or more of the brass cap studs for clearance since something hits.

39 Coupe, The caps literally fell off, no problem there. You and Terry were the first that really understood, but maybe my communication skills were lacking. And thanks for the hint about the rotor clearance. I will take heed. Thank you!