distributor shaft

1

1929tudor

Senior Member
I have a 2 piece distributor shaft. Does the lower shaft just lift out or do you have to take the valve cover off to get the shaft out. I have a clicking noise that sounds like it is coming from around the bottom there so i think it might be the distributor. I'm just a novice so not sure what different noises would be but took my stephoscope and it was loudest there. I also shorted out each cylinder to see if the noise stopped and it didn't. Like maybe the valves would be the problem. I remember seeing a post a while back saying to short out to see if noises stop. The noise doesn't sound bad but I'm sure it's not supposed to be there even for a newbie like me. Thanks guys.
 
The lower shaft will sometimes get rusted to the drive gear (as was the case with my Coupe.) I sprayed some penetrating liquid and then used a really big screwdriver (I have a wide regular screwdriver that was ground down over time) and stuck it into the notch on the top of the lower shaft.

I was able to wiggle the shaft and extract it that way.

It was just really gunked up.

Hope that helps.
 
Regarding the clicking noise, you might be hearing the points open and close. My dist. and shaft comes out in one peace through the head. Just loosen the nut directly below the distributor.
 
If you have a lot of back and forth movement with the distributor rotor you may need to rebuilt the distributor, replace the lower shaft and possible rebuild the drive gear located in the valve chamber.

Ron
 
Just chuck that old noisy engine in the scrap and go get an H&H long block. You will be finished in no time!
 
You don't have to remove the valve cover. The shaft will just pull out (if it is not rusted in).

On my car, and I don't know if this is common, the shaft only goes in one way. I recently had the distributor and shaft out and when replacing both I could not get the distributor to mesh with the shaft. The shaft fit into the drive in the valve area, but the distributor would not go into the shaft, and yes, I did turn it 180 degrees. It turned out that it meshed just fine when I removed the shaft and turned it upside down. Strange!!

Also, maybe your noise is due to the retention grub screw which holds the distributor on the motor is too tight. I tighten mine and then back it off about 3/4 of a turn.

Dick
 
Dick: on my car the shaft only goes in one way too...I looked carefully at it and the slot is offset from center by a tiny bit so turning it 180 degrees is the thing to do ...I was able to pull mine out with LONG long nose pliers ...Rusting of the shaft can be caused by coolant seeping into the distributor shaft area ...Mine did that and it was really rusty in there after one year of use ...When I took the head off I used The newer type head gasket with silicone sealer on it and also smeared Silicone gasket sealer on the lower end of the head bolts I also smeared a thin coat of chassis grease on the shaft as a rust preventer and after a year there has been NO rust on the Distributor shaft ... Clickity Clickity I have driven model A's for over 50 years and they do make a clicking noise in the distributor and sometimes valves have a little to much play that is normal HOWEVER I would ask a club member to listen to it to be sure ...Not long ago My Model A had a little put put put sound that was new a club member who was standing there when I parked said " HI Bob sonds like you have a little exhaust leak " I opened the hood and he pointed at the leak and that was the problem ...He heard it and diagnosed the problem before I had any idea I even had a problem ...HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE ! :) ReBob
 
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