Mallory crab clacking noise

F

Fatboy Tim

Member
24 stud with Mallory electronic crab distributor, clacking from front end. Set the lash on the lifters and all good. Still clack when engine revs then settles down. The distributor drive (offset) spacer seems loose at the slot connection to the distributor drive - its about 5 thou over the width of the distributor drive teeth.



Anyone had experience of this?


Thanks for any replies.
 
I do not know about a clacking distributor,but I had a crank pulley with a flat spot and it sounded like a loose lifter. It would go away as you drove.
John
 
Fatboy Tim said:
24 stud with Mallory electronic crab distributor, clacking from front end. Set the lash on the lifters and all good. Still clack when engine revs then settles down. The distributor drive (offset) spacer seems loose at the slot connection to the distributor drive - its about 5 thou over the width of the distributor drive teeth.



Anyone had experience of this?


Thanks for any replies.
Click to expand...


To be clear, are you using one of those "buttons" to take up the space between a three bolt dizzy and a 59AB cam or is this driving directly off the cam?

If not, have you looked at the cam slot to make sure it's not blown out or worn?
 
Yes, its a spacer between the cam (new Schneider cam) and the 3 bolt dizzy. Ordered new spacer arrives tomorrow so will try that.



Mart - yes, i checked that and cap is ok plus tried with different dizzy, PS its Neighbour Dave - 32 red coupe from Scotland, I hear from Gordon your pickup flathead wasnt running right.
 
Hellooo Dave.

If you suspect the button why not pack the slots with thick grease. If you start it up and the noise has gone away you can say it is the spacer play. If you clean it out and the noise comes back, that would prove it. Don't run it long enough with the grease in to melt it all into the engine.

That's what I would try.

Mart.
 
john in illinois said:
I do not know about a clacking distributor,but I had a crank pulley with a flat spot and it sounded like a loose lifter. It would go away as you drove.
John
Click to expand...

John has a valid point here. I've had more than one crank pulley start coming apart at the spot welds. It would separate as the belts comes around then snap back in place causing a clacking noise. Inspect the pulley good.
 
They have mechanical advance and are adjustable I think . You may want to see if a spring fell off or the weights are not moving smoothly .
 
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