Setting the points crab dizzy

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Yep, fairly easy to get off, just two bolts. Only trick to reinstalling is to make sure the tang on the distributor is in the correct position in relation to the cam (the off sets line up). When bolting it back down, go slow and don't force anything, if it is in the correct position it will bolt up easily.

I would suspect that you could put it in and, while pressing firmly with the hand, turn the rotor until it pops in place?.

[philipswanson]

Forget measuring gaps. Set it up on a Sun machine. That's the only way you are getting the dwell adjustments right. Otherwise it will run like crap. If in doubt, send it in to Bubba for adjustment. Well worth it. I bought a Sun machine to take care of my own.

[Mart]

Originally Posted by Licensed to kill

I would suspect that you could put it in and, while pressing firmly with the hand, turn the rotor until it pops in place?.

That's exactly it.*

If you make a note (or these days a pic with your phone) of the rotor position when you take it off, and don't turn the engine while it is off, you have a good start point when refitting it, and only a slight movement of the rotor should allow it to drop into place.

* I say exactly, but only gentle pressure required, when aligned correctly, no pressure at all is required for it to fit. It will just slot in nicely.

Mart.

[35fordtn]

My hats off to you.. these early ford distributors are very simple. Any knowledge not known can be acquired here on the fordbarn. Glad to see you tackling the job yourself and asking questions when needed and saving the $108 for a rebuild elsewhere. To what others said there is a lot to be gained by setting up on a sun machine. With that said if the weights are good and free and the shaft is polished nicely and while using good points you can do it yourself as you’d are

[Hoop]

"Forget measuring gaps. Set it up on a Sun machine. That's the only way you are getting the dwell adjustments right. Otherwise it will run like crap. If in doubt, send it in to Bubba for adjustment. Well worth it. I bought a Sun machine to take care of my own."


This requires a comment. The helmet/crab distributors were designed to be set using feeler gauges. Millions upon millions were manufactured, remanufactured, points replaced with feeler gauges ... and cars ran great.

The Sun Distributor Tester is ... a distributor tester. The early V8 distributors never required a strober. Think about it. Would Ford have designed a distributor that needed to be set up on a machine that hadn't been invented yet?

Check out the patent.

You want to "test" a distributor, the Sun is pretty good. BUT, want to set the initial advance? Very few Sun's can do it. In fact, I know of only one so equipped from the factory. If you are relying on a Sun machine to set the initial advance, good luck.

Very few understand why the spec's are published as they are. Short answer is that other settings will work, but you have to pick one set to publish and stick with it. Especially with dwell. You have to do the math to understand dwell.

Too many posts that discourage DIY'ers.

(Incidentally, I have 4 Sun machines.)

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

You have done somethiong i would have betted against doing , hats off to you for figuring it out and getting it done. In reality thats what its all about |getting it done"..
Heres a little reward for all reading this thread ( still not done but working) on building the "CRAB"...Again atta boy......

https://aviondemand.wistia.com/medias/l5i60ps0ai

[Licensed to kill]

Thanks Jim. I watched the video and found that, those two little brass washers were missing on mine. I wondered about that as the points have room to walk up the shaft to the cotter pins and that didn't seem right to me. I will make some washers for it. After viewing the video, I am going to pull the dizzy and take the whole thing apart. I'm certain that the advance weights will need attention and even if they don't, I will feel better knowing the condition of what's in there. I really appreciate all the help on this from everyone and especially Jim for the video. I sometimes have problems understanding descriptions in writing but do well with videos, especially when they are accompanied by detailed, easy to follow commentary. VERY much appreciated.

[burnette]

thanks for the video really interesting.

[RobR'35]

On the crab type distributor when putting it back on,
I use two made up studs about a 1.25" long.
Screw those in first, slide the distributor over those, turn the rotor till the distributor seats on the front cover, unscrew one stud replace with the proper bolt then do the same with the other stud/bolt, then tighten the bolts.
Makes it a bit easier.

[Step-down]

Excelant Video

[philipswanson]

[QUOTE=Hoop;1693905][COLOR="DarkRed"

The helmet/crab distributors were designed to be set using feeler gauges. If you are relying on a Sun machine to set the initial advance, good luck. (QUOTE)

Not true, I beg to differ. Ford never meant for you to set it yourself with a feeler gauge. And there is no initial advance on a helmet or crab. Ford had set up a dealer program to set up these distributors on a machine, NEVER by hand with a feeler gauge. It's virtually impossible to get it right with just a feeler gauge on this style of distributor. That's why Ford did it this way.

[RKS.PA]

Agree!! Excellent video....and Jim, seems like all those years of teaching are still coming through. Thanks, too, for the two crabs you did for me....first class.


Regards....Dick.

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by philipswanson

It's virtually impossible to get it right with just a feeler gauge on this style of distributor.

Why is that??.

[Hoop]

Better read it again and see who said what.

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by Hoop

Better read it again and see who said what.

I hadn't noticed that it posted the quote wrong. Found the problem and fixed it. Thanks for the heads up and sorry for the confusion.

[Anteek29]

As a newbie, when it is time to pull my '41 helmet dizzy, is it easier from the top or from underneath the truck?

[Mart]

From the top.

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by philipswanson

It's virtually impossible to get it right with just a feeler gauge on this style of distributor.

I would still like to know why this is??.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Licensed to kill

I would still like to know why this is??.

It is not so, just an opinion. The points have been set by feeler gauges millions of times. A test fixture or machine is a big help and something a shop would use, but not normally considered home equipment.