Distributor is stuck

[Chas Henderson #28127]

I am trying to remove my distributor and it will only come up about 3/8". I have removed it several times with the last one being last year. I have totally removed the clamp and bolt, wire, and the cross shaft. I have tried twisting, jerking, prying, (and praying) slow upward pressure, reclamping and bumping the engine and started all over again. I can't understand what could be stopping it. It is definitely hitting on something. I am typing this as I have tried cussing at it and I need to cool off abit. It is the original distributor and I don't want to damage it. 71 sb. Has anybody run in to this? I am open to all ideas.
Thanks,

Chasman
28127

[Mike M.]

Re: Distributor is stuck

the only thing i can think of that would present with your problem would be the roll pin retaining the drive gear to the mainshaft of the distributor. if the pin came out enough, it could bind on the cam gear. highly unlikely though as the roll pins are a press fit and require the help of mr. hammer and drive punch to remove it. have you had the gear off the distributor multiple times and perhaps reduced the friction fit of the roll pin? did you try turning the harmonic balancer in the oposite dirction of run mode? good luck and let us know the outcome as i've never experienced a similar problem. mike

[Mike M.]

Re: Distributor is stuck---P.S.-----

that 71 sb isn't a ford by chance? couldn't resist that one .mike

[Mike McKown]

Re: Distributor is stuck

I've had a few of them stuck. They would raise about as far as yours and then hang up. It was sludge and goo hanging them. Use a small prybar and gently wiggle, shake the distrubutor while you apply light prybar pressure. If it's the roll pin as MM suggests, I would think a half turn of the crank would turn the distributor a 1/4 turn and relieve interference to the cam gear.