Distributor Lubrication

[bluesman31]

I keep reading about lubing the distributor. Where exactly are you supposed to lube the stock distributor, and with what lubricant(s)?

thanks!

[Bruce Adams]

You should lube the cam with a tiny dab of "Cam Grease" which is available at PepBoys as well as Model A vendors. Some use Petroleum Jelly, but I don't.
THEN
Put a drop of motor oil in the oil receptacle on the passenger side of the distributor.
(Pull out the knurled tip and drop a drop ot two of oil into it)
The bearings CAN be oiled if you have either purchased or modified the distributor shaft with a verticle shaft where the screw goes in on top, connecting to a horizontal shaft that permits oil to lube the bearing directly.(This is an after-market item or a local modification)

[Aerocraft]

[QUOTE=Bruce Adams
The bearings CAN be oiled if you have either purchased or modified the distributor shaft with a verticle shaft where the screw goes in on top, connecting to a horizontal shaft that permits oil to lube the bearing directly.(This is an after-market item or a local modification)[/QUOTE]

I second the comment that Bruce made about the mod that can be made to the distributor shaft. This change really helps the longevity of the bushings in the distributor. It is a simple and inexpensive change that simply makes a lot of sense. Gar Williams

[oliverguy]

Does the condenser removal method of oiling the top bushing really work? I never heard of that before. Sounds like an easy way of oiling it every once and a while. I don't really want to get into a distributer modification right now. Maybe when it requires a rebuild, but not now.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by oliverguy

Does the condenser removal method of oiling the top bushing really work? I never heard of that before. Sounds like an easy way of oiling it every once and a while. I don't really want to get into a distributer modification right now. Maybe when it requires a rebuild, but not now.

Oliver,
Yes, it really works, and if I remember right, it will hold a puddle for long time lubrication. Bill W.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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You can't overlube the oil cup on the side of the distributor, so don't be affraid to make it overflow.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

The upper bushing can be oiled well by taking out the condensor, then you can see it & give it a generous "squirt" of motor oil. I use Chief's prized John Deere squirt can.
Bill W.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

The upper bushing can be oiled well by taking out the condensor, then you can see it & give it a generous "squirt" of motor oil. I use Chief's prized John Deere squirt can.
Bill W.

I've expected someone to ask what you did to make that work but nobody has! My condenser is well below the upper bushing with no passages to the bushings or oil chamber. In fact the top of the upper bushing is shrouded by the flange on the distributor shaft. Are we talking about a different type of distributor?

Originally Posted by 30ccpickup

If the oil cup didn’t lube the upper bushing well enough, wouldn’t we be reading about well maintained distributors constantly seizing up? JMO and not knowing for sure.

Paul

I've never had a problem in over 50k miles (most of those on one car) and I have no modifications on any of my disributors. Of course I don't let anyone else touch my distributors. It's also worth noting I don't oil them as often as I should but I don't just put in a drop or two. I load it up. I've also never worn an upper bushing enough to have any appreciable play.

[bluesman31]

What motor oil weight to use?

[Bruce of MN]

Originally Posted by bluesman31

What motor oil weight to use?

I'll bet it is hot enough there that your engine oil would be just fine.

[oliverguy]

Ok well that's what I'm going to do. Seems a lot easier than pulling out the entire distributer and modifying it. How often should that be done, if say my car gets driven about 500 miles a year?

[30ccpickup]

If the oil cup didn’t lube the upper bushing well enough, wouldn’t we be reading about well maintained distributers constantly seizing up? JMO and not knowing for sure.

Paul

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by 30ccpickup

If the oil cup didn’t lube the upper bushing well enough, wouldn’t we be reading about well maintained distributers constantly seizing up? JMO and not knowing for sure.

Paul

Paul,
I've seen 2 upper bushings seize. In both cases, it snapped one side of the upper dist drive shaft off! I don't know what would happen if it were a one piece long shaft dist with the reinforcing sleeve on the oil pump drive gear. It would probably just snap off the "key" on the bottom of the shaft??
NO, the oil cup DOES NOT lube the upper bushing well! Sometimes, an unknown engine "squeel" that comes & goes MIGHT be a warning from upper dist. bushing??
If you're a believer in oiling your horn bushing every 3 months, use that as a reminder to OIL your upper dist. bushing also! Bill W.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Marco,
You're absolutely right, I must have had my "brain?" in my L/R pocket. It must have been the LOWER bushing that I saw through the condensor hole!
Going to the garage & dismantling my extra dist & doing a dist 101 while Gregg's not lookin' so's I don't put my foot in my mouth again with BAD info! (SORRY!) bILL w.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Ditto what Marco said. Mine is also stock and I don't lube it as often as I should. I've only seen one distributor shaft snap and that was on a Model A that sat for over 30 years, and then the new owner didn't know you were supposed to lube the distributor.

[oliverguy]

well I thought that sounded too good to be true.

[RonC]

The original bushings were oil impregnated and held some lubrication. The repo bushings do not hold oil. Not sure if you can buy the original type anymore?

[MrBruce]

The original distributor bushings had black dots or spots (which was graphite) and that's why they didn't have near the problems we do today. When I left Clevite, I got a box of the graphite distributor bushings and use them when I rebuild a distributor. From what I've seen, most of the bushings you buy for the distributor do not have the graphite spots on them and thus don't lube the shaft.

[Steves46]

Is 3 in 1 oil ok to use? For the distributor cam, would Napa Sil Glyde be ok to use as well? Thanks.

[wmws]

I think 3 in1 would be a little thin for Florida. I would use whatever you use in your engine for the bushing. I don't know what Sil Glyde is. I just use Vaseline or a dab of grease on the cam.