distributor problems

D

dangerz

Junior Member
Hello I just bought a 29 tudor (all stock) yesterday and while driving it home it started running rough then quit all together. When I checked to see if the points were opening , the distributor doesnt turn when the motor turns over. Is there a pin that may have sheared ? Thanks in advance
 
One way to find out is to pull the distributor. You may have either a one piece or 2 piece distributor shaft that may have broken. It is driven by the oil pump drive gear off of the cam so that is where to look next. The next point of failure will be the timing gear.
 
Try checking to see if the distributor cam is tight on the shaft. Just try turning the rotor by hand. There should be a little mechanical play, but no more. If you can spin it around, that's your problem.
 
You can put the timing pin in and crank the motor. If you do not ever get to the detent it is not turning.
 
Sounds like a failed fiber timing gear. A easy way to check. Remove the timing pin on the front of the engine. Use a mirror and a flashlight; turn the engine with a crank and see if the timing gear is turning.

Tom Endy
 
Must be the timing gear I pulled the timing pin and cranked the engine it feels like it did not move . Is it easier to pull the engine to change the cam gear ?
 
You can change the timing gear without pulling the engine. it is easier if you remove the radiator. You also should loosen the rear motor mount bolts so as not to crack the clutch housing when you jack the front of the engine up. If the cam nut is an original Model A nut you will need a special socket wrench most suppliers sell. Quite often a chisel is employed to remove and tighten this type of nut.

Tom Endy
 
I replaced the fiber timing gear about 20k miles ago. It recently failed. I installed a new aluminum timing gear. It is not noisy. I do not expect to replace the aluminum timing gear in my lifetime.
 
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