Distributor play
- Thread starter old31
- Start date
That isn't too awful. As long as there's no play laterally, you're fine. The issue becomes bad when there's enough shaft play vertically that the shaft could jump up off the distributor drive itself and you lose ignition. The spring tab on the top of the rotor will wear out (lose springiness) quicker is all.
nkaminar
Well-known member
My first Model A, that I bought in the early 1960's, the distributor would jump out of the drive and somehow end up 180 degrees out. Firing when the exhaust valves were open it would explode the unburnted air/fuel mixture in the exhaust pipe and muffler and make a hell of a racket. I would just pop it back were it belonged and carry on.
That doesn't sound too bad to me. Drive it.
Curious how that could happen when the drive tab is offset. Those parts must have rally been worn out!
Bob Bidonde
Well-known member
Vertical motion of the shaft is not a good thing as it accelerated wear of the rubbing block on the points. I do agree that radial motion is exceptionally bad, and should not exceed 0.003". Radial play subtracts from the point gap and the rotor gaps.
Attachments
Vertical slop does not wear the points rubbing block any faster.
Chuck Sea/Tac
Well-known member
AI says the thrust is down, so if true it doesn’t matter.
