Distributor problems

J

JBohannon

Senior Member
Ok a while back Model A would not start. I realized my distributor was not turning. Wanted new one anyway. Bought new distributor and lower rod. Am in the process of installing it. Got it all the way in and new one will not turn while engine does. With lower rod in and distributor out I put my finger in whole and rod seems to turn but then not turn at times ?. I can say I can feel cam gear turning at top dead center point and all around. I do have oil pumping out of lower hole. What is problem. I think something connecting to lower shaft? Thanks in advance. Joe B.
 
Under the side cover, in the center of the valve chamber is the drive gear for both the oil pump and the distributor.

The spring in the center of the chamber holds the distributor/oil pump drive in place.

With the distributor and shaft out, remove the spring and the drive gear will come out.

Examine it for breakage or wear.....

First pic shows the valve chamber, dist drive is in the center.

Second picture shows the distributor drive gear.
 

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I must have a problem at that point so I will go there. Do I have to remove intake and exhaust manifold to get off side cover ? Thanks Joe B
 
The manifolds do not have to come off. I would recommend making sure the camshaft gear is in good condition. Its side cover comes off easily.
 
I've been told you can get the side cover off with the manifolds in place.....personally, I would take them off as removing the cover and replacing it would be much easier.....

One more thing....worst case is your cam may be broken....do the valves in cylinders 3 and 4 move when you crank the engine? You can see them through the spark plug holes....
 
Patrick L. said:
The manifolds do not have to come off. I would recommend making sure the camshaft gear is in good condition. Its side cover comes off easily.
Click to expand...


Here is a picture of the cam gear with the side cover off. It comes off pretty easily, be gentle with the gaskets though....and there is a bolt in the bottom through the pan flange...
 

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Okay I have the side cover pulled that was easy. I removed the spring from the cam gear assy but it will not come out completely. The tang at bottom for the oil pump is hanging do I take assy apart ?
 
Here is what the bottom looks like....I'm not sure how it could hang-up but I didn't have that problem so don't really have a good answer.......

you might have to rotate it to get it out....

(I replaced my old gear/shaft with a new slightly over-sized gear from Bert's..that's why there are two in the pic....)
 

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Double check that the gear is tight on the shaft...should be one piece really....but I think there were some repro's that had the gear pinned to the shaft and the pin would shear....
 
1955cj5 said:
Double check that the gear is tight on the shaft...should be one piece really....but I think there were some repro's that had the gear pinned to the shaft and the pin would shear....
Click to expand...

Thats what I was thinking when I started reading this thread, a sheared pin in the drive.
 
While you're at it and you have the cover off the cam gear as in 1955cj5's post, turn the motor with the crank handle and watch to see the camshaft turns. I suspect a stripped timing gear but other suggestions above are equally valid.
 
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