The Ford Barn

akelii · 06-17-2014, 07:06 PM

need help on how to free up stuck distributer.the rotor does not turn, engine seems hard to turn, it feels like something is binding.Any suggestions.My car is a 30 rdster

700rpm · 06-17-2014, 07:08 PM

Can you remove the distributor? Does the rotor turn when you crank the engine?

Tom Wesenberg · 06-17-2014, 07:41 PM

It might be a stripped timing gear. Put the timing pin in the hole and press it against the cam gear as you turn the engine over to see if you can feel the gear moving.

akelii · 06-17-2014, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Can you remove the distributor? Does the rotor turn when you crank the engine?

rotor does not turn. pulled off side cover next to timing gear , gear seems ok. but distributer can not move at all.Engine is also very hard to turn using crank.

Tom Wesenberg · 06-17-2014, 10:48 PM

The gear "SEEMS" OK, but you can't see the stripped teeth next to the crank gear.
Does the cam gear move if you crank the engine?

akelii · 06-17-2014, 11:06 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

cam gear turns when you crank engine, do I have to remove front cover to see crank gear.

700rpm · 06-18-2014, 12:19 AM

If your timing (cam) gear is turning when you use the crank to turn the engine, your crank gear is OK. But if that is what's happening and your distributor isn't turning, you have a stripped gear either on your camshaft or your oil pump drive.

Tom Wesenberg · 06-18-2014, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

If your timing (cam) gear is turning when you use the crank to turn the engine, your crank gear is OK. But if that is what's happening and your distributor isn't turning, you have a stripped gear either on your camshaft or your oil pump drive.

Or the bearings ran dry and locked up the shaft, which then snapped off the tang on the shaft. That's what happened to a guy in our club when he didn't know about the oil cup on the distributor.

Brentwood Bob · 06-18-2014, 11:11 AM

see if you can pull the distributor. Then check its condition. eliminate it from the chain of possible causes.

700rpm · 06-18-2014, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Or the bearings ran dry and locked up the shaft, which then snapped off the tang on the shaft. That's what happened to a guy in our club when he didn't know about the oil cup on the distributor.

Tom, I've never seen that, but I'll file that with my list of possibilities. Thanks.

JohnLaVoy · 06-19-2014, 08:18 AM

We had the bushing freeze on the distributor shaft and the tang break off several years ago could be your problem.

Joe K · 06-19-2014, 09:00 AM

I had the pin break on the sleeve coupling that holds the distributor/oil pump gear in place in the carrier. The action of the cam drove the d/op gear "down" and effectively "disengaged" it from driving the distributor (the oil pump retainer spring gives it enough free play to allow this to happen.)

I could see everthing in the valve chamber turning JUST FINE when I rotated the engine. But the sleeve itselve obscured the connection. And then I noticed the sleeve was not turning (shouldn't I see that pin rotate by?)

Sounds like time for disassembly...

Joe K

06-17-2014, 07:06 PM	#1
akelii Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 4	distributer stuck need help on how to free up stuck distributer.the rotor does not turn, engine seems hard to turn, it feels like something is binding.Any suggestions.My car is a 30 rdster

06-17-2014, 07:08 PM	#2
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: distributer stuck Can you remove the distributor? Does the rotor turn when you crank the engine? __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

06-17-2014, 07:41 PM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: distributer stuck It might be a stripped timing gear. Put the timing pin in the hole and press it against the cam gear as you turn the engine over to see if you can feel the gear moving.

06-17-2014, 10:48 PM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: distributer stuck The gear "SEEMS" OK, but you can't see the stripped teeth next to the crank gear. Does the cam gear move if you crank the engine?

06-17-2014, 11:06 PM	#6
akelii Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 4	Re: distributer stuck Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) cam gear turns when you crank engine, do I have to remove front cover to see crank gear.

06-18-2014, 12:19 AM	#7
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: distributer stuck If your timing (cam) gear is turning when you use the crank to turn the engine, your crank gear is OK. But if that is what's happening and your distributor isn't turning, you have a stripped gear either on your camshaft or your oil pump drive. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

06-18-2014, 11:11 AM	#9
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,420	Re: distributer stuck see if you can pull the distributor. Then check its condition. eliminate it from the chain of possible causes.

06-19-2014, 08:18 AM	#11
JohnLaVoy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 779	Re: distributer stuck We had the bushing freeze on the distributor shaft and the tang break off several years ago could be your problem.

06-19-2014, 09:00 AM	#12
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,610	Re: distributer stuck I had the pin break on the sleeve coupling that holds the distributor/oil pump gear in place in the carrier. The action of the cam drove the d/op gear "down" and effectively "disengaged" it from driving the distributor (the oil pump retainer spring gives it enough free play to allow this to happen.) I could see everthing in the valve chamber turning JUST FINE when I rotated the engine. But the sleeve itselve obscured the connection. And then I noticed the sleeve was not turning (shouldn't I see that pin rotate by?) Sounds like time for disassembly... Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.