Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Model A would not start. I replaced points because they did look bad. Still will not start. Now I realize that my distributor is not rotating when engine does. I last ran it a month ago and all was fine. What would it likely be? Thanks Joe B.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Cam, cam gear, dist. shaft, distributor drive, & distributor cam screw loose. I can't think of any more places to check.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Stripped timing gear.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

The first thing I would do is remove the timing pin, insert it and feel if the timing gear is rotating when cranking the engine, IF OK then move on to the other suggestions , not much sense in doing more work than needed.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

I can say the pin is moving with the cam gear what next I guess the distributor.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

I had the gear turn on the lower shaft which may make it appear that the shaft isn't turning, it was a reproduction shaft that just had the gear pressed on. Could be some strange thing going on with that gear down on the cam shaft.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Pull the distributor and see if the tang is broken, or remove the slotted 1/8" pipe plug on the side of the block and see if oil comes out when you crank the engine.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Make sure it's not a loose screw or something with the distributor. Then pull the distributor and check the tang on the gear drive. I have seen a few that have sheared off and the dist. no go. Now! When you're pulling the distributor, you must pull it (pry) straight up for the 1st 1/4" before you can rotate it back and forth. The frequently get stuck and some guys have tried to rotate them with some pretty heavy wrenches. Saturate the bore in the head and the bottom of the dist. with WD 40. If you know what "cat's paw" is, they can be handy for prying the dist. up. Don't forget the locking screw in the head that holds the dist. in. The little locating pin is on the other sjde from the locking screw. Once you lift it out of the bore 1/4", the distributor will rotate.
Terry

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Did you loosen the screw holding the cam and forgot to tighten it? If you pulled the whole distributor, make sure it is inserted all the way down and the pin is in it's hole in the head.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

I just had the same problem on a pickup I worked on. The distributor was seized up due to no lubrication of the shaft. It caused the tang in the distributor to shear off as Tom said in a previous response. I pulled the dist. to confirm and pulled the side cover off and replaced the dist. drive and rebuilt the distributor. Not a major problem as I had a few rebuilt distributors on hand as well as a drive.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Since it ran when you parked it the timing gear and pump gear should not be the problem.
As mentioned pull your distributor and check the tang and that it's seated properly

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Please keep us posted. Thanks

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

I can say this after the motor will not start I did see the distributor spin while I was trying to reset old points. What I did do was put the new style lower and upper plate on the distributor. I dont guess I some how locked the distributor down ?

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Actually I drove over to a friends house, turned off the car and it would not start when I went o leave. Stripped timing gear, very odd but it happened.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

When my friend had a Model A his would not start. The drive gear that mates with the cam gear was stripped. He had not been oiling his distributor bushings and it seized up causing the gear failure. The teeth on the gear were getting pretty thin by then.

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Good to know thanks!

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

Is this the one just a couple of inches below the distributor ?

Re: Distributor will not rotate ?
 

It's the one that after you take off the valve cover, remove the spring and then is pulled up and out.