The Ford Barn

daren007 · 01-07-2018, 10:31 AM

Rebuilt a unknown distributor and installed. I used a VOM while rebuilding and everything checked out. Upon start up I noticed a slight amp meter discharge and of course a no start. Found a voltage drop at the points with points open. Removed distributor and found six volts at the ignition cable wire. Found internal resistance in distributor. Disassembled and found no discrepancies. Reinstalled and back to square one. Removed distributor and once again found nothing. Suspect the cable when screwed in could exert enough pressure to force the bracket dimple to short against the housing. Installed a insulator between the dimple and housing and now I am up and running. I am not convinced I have found the problem.

I would like some input before I find myself walking home in this Minnesota weather.

sofield · 01-07-2018, 10:35 AM

If you screw the cable in to far it will create a short.

mike657894 · 01-07-2018, 11:30 AM

first advice never go out without hat and gloves in your coat pocket. I replaced my dizzy wire with a modern wire and rubber grommet. It was causing an intermittent problem and I only noticed when I had the car running and I bumped the dizzy wire a foot from the dizzy and the car died. started it up gave the wire a shake and it died again. But because the parts are cheap I replaced most of the components and put the old ones under the front seat in case the new stuff fails. Another piece of advice is that a scarf would help too if you decide to tackle a repair out side in a parking lot in this weather.

Dont be afraid to use your pliers to bend a tab to get a little more clearance or the use of an extra insulator if that fixes it up.

leo · 01-07-2018, 01:10 PM

I had some problems with my distributor that were the reason of an over zealous paint job. Remember the top plate has to be ground thru the distributor base and too much paint in the groove where the plate sits can cause problems.

Mike V. Florida · 01-07-2018, 11:36 PM

I'm with sofield. Also be sure the wire terminal is bent properly and there is no play in the upper plate.

daren007 · 01-08-2018, 07:01 PM

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Thanks everyone.

Jacksonlll · 01-08-2018, 07:32 PM

Good job. That is a tricky one to find.

01-07-2018, 10:31 AM	#1
daren007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saint Cloud Mn Posts: 745	Distributor woes Rebuilt a unknown distributor and installed. I used a VOM while rebuilding and everything checked out. Upon start up I noticed a slight amp meter discharge and of course a no start. Found a voltage drop at the points with points open. Removed distributor and found six volts at the ignition cable wire. Found internal resistance in distributor. Disassembled and found no discrepancies. Reinstalled and back to square one. Removed distributor and once again found nothing. Suspect the cable when screwed in could exert enough pressure to force the bracket dimple to short against the housing. Installed a insulator between the dimple and housing and now I am up and running. I am not convinced I have found the problem. I would like some input before I find myself walking home in this Minnesota weather.

01-07-2018, 10:35 AM	#2
sofield Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 72	Re: Distributor woes If you screw the cable in to far it will create a short.

01-07-2018, 11:30 AM	#3
mike657894 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bay City Michigan Posts: 1,050	Re: Distributor woes first advice never go out without hat and gloves in your coat pocket. I replaced my dizzy wire with a modern wire and rubber grommet. It was causing an intermittent problem and I only noticed when I had the car running and I bumped the dizzy wire a foot from the dizzy and the car died. started it up gave the wire a shake and it died again. But because the parts are cheap I replaced most of the components and put the old ones under the front seat in case the new stuff fails. Another piece of advice is that a scarf would help too if you decide to tackle a repair out side in a parking lot in this weather. Dont be afraid to use your pliers to bend a tab to get a little more clearance or the use of an extra insulator if that fixes it up.

01-07-2018, 01:10 PM	#4
leo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 734	Re: Distributor woes I had some problems with my distributor that were the reason of an over zealous paint job. Remember the top plate has to be ground thru the distributor base and too much paint in the groove where the plate sits can cause problems.

01-07-2018, 11:36 PM	#5
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida between Sarasota and TampaSouth Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Distributor woes I'm with sofield. Also be sure the wire terminal is bent properly and there is no play in the upper plate. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

01-08-2018, 07:01 PM	#6
daren007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saint Cloud Mn Posts: 745	Re: Distributor woes Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks everyone.

01-08-2018, 07:32 PM	#7
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Distributor woes Good job. That is a tricky one to find.