Distributor Maintenance

[Kenneth G.]

I am doing some engine work (cyl. heads etc.) on my 65 300 HP roadster and decided clean and lubricate the distributor. After removing the tach gear and driven gear I was supposed to be able to slide out the main shaft according to the manuals. It turns out there is some scoring on the the main shaft a several inches below the tack drive gear that keeps the shaft from sliding through the upper bushing - this can be seen and felt by looking through the tach drive bore. Can I drive the shaft through the upper bushing and plan on replacing it and then polishing the main shaft ?
Or does the main shaft have to be replaced regardless ? Thanks
Ken Geddes 37269 (This is my 2nd post in ten years - hope it goes thru.)

[Jim T.]

Re: Distributor Maintenance

I have no idea of what the hang up could be. I have removed the distributor shafts on my 68 and 70 and never had a problem. I can speculate with, could there of been a sheared piece of tach drive gear or distributor shaft piece that did not get cleaned out and has lodged somewhere? The upper bushing from what I have read usually receives the least amount of wear. Being the greater distance from the bottom of the distributor, it would seem to be the hardest to install and hone. If the distributor was working just fine before and turns freely when assembled or when the shaft is in an installed position you could just lubricate the tach gear drive and install it, however the upper bearing lubricant cavity would go unserviced. You said it can be felt and seen by looking through the tach drive bore, what does it look like?

[Kenneth G.]

Re: Distributor Maintenance

Jim - The shaft looks like and feels like it is scored or scratched all the way around the shaft several inches below the tach drive gear. Since I can see it, maybe it can be polished with the tip of some kind of small tool through the tach drive bore. I can pull the shaft through far enough to examine the drive gear which looks good - also the tach gear looks in good shape. Hard to understand what could have scored the shaft. The shaft has always turned freely without any problems.
Thanks Ken Geddes 37269

[Wayne P.]

Re: Distributor Maintenance

If you're going to replace the upper bushing anyway, go ahead and drive the shaft out. The bushing may come with it if there is significant interference.

[Kenneth G.]

Re: Distributor Maintenance

Jim - I found the culprit. There was a piece of steel (a half-moon shape about 3/8 in long and very thin) that I found in the tach bore while I was washing the dist. in some thinner. It must have been from the original machining of the dist. and was left inside. I am pretty sure that I could have driven the shaft out along with the top bushing due the shaft hang-
up on the bushing. Instead I have lubed the shaft top and bottom as best as possible and lubed the tach drive as well. I will put it back in engine when I have installed cyl. heads etc. Hope all goes OK. Than you very much for your interest and advice. Ken Geddes 37269

I have no idea of what the hang up could be. I have removed the distributor shafts on my 68 and 70 and never had a problem. I can speculate with, could there of been a sheared piece of tach drive gear or distributor shaft piece that did not get cleaned out and has lodged somewhere? The upper bushing from what I have read usually receives the least amount of wear. Being the greater distance from the bottom of the distributor, it would seem to be the hardest to install and hone. If the distributor was working just fine before and turns freely when assembled or when the shaft is in an installed position you could just lubricate the tach gear drive and install it, however the upper bearing lubricant cavity would go unserviced. You said it can be felt and seen by looking through the tach drive bore, what does it look like?

[Jim T.]

Re: Distributor Maintenance

Kenneth good to hear you were able to remove problem in your distributor. Here is some information on distributor rebuilding by someone that is in the business of restoring/rebuilding distributors.

http://www.tispecialty.com/articles/article6.htm