Distributor shaft removal?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 318
Likes: 8
From: Houston Texas
Distributor shaft removal?
Ok so now the tach drive gear on my distributor is bad and is need of replacement.. What is the trick to getting the bad shaft out? The distributor that I am using at this time is an old dual point distributor. Yes there are better choices and I also have the original TI system on the self. But I really just want to learn how to rebuild a distributor as part of the experience of owning an old ride..... Getting the shaft out seems to be the toughest part for me at this point. I don't want to do anything too stupid to damage the housing or anything usable..... thx...r
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
Ok so now the tach drive gear on my distributor is bad and is need of replacement.. What is the trick to getting the bad shaft out? The distributor that I am using at this time is an old dual point distributor. Yes there are better choices and I also have the original TI system on the self. But I really just want to learn how to rebuild a distributor as part of the experience of owning an old ride..... Getting the shaft out seems to be the toughest part for me at this point. I don't want to do anything too stupid to damage the housing or anything usable..... thx...r
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 318
Likes: 8
From: Houston Texas
Yes.. I have the bottom gear off. But the shaft will not just pull out. Do I use any force like tapping it with a hammer? Because it seems as if the tach drive gear is hitting what I am going to call the shaft housing bushing at the top?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
AND...it may take a bit of pulling effort to get the shaft to come out. In most cases for me...they can take a bit of effort. So I will turn/rotate the shaft while pulling it. Eventually it will come out. BUT..that is also AFTER I felt the bottom of the shaft where the gear was pinned in place and feel for any burrs on the shaft.
ALSO...just a HEADS-UP. If you are replacing a main shaft on a distributor that you just removed from an engine that was running. And you KNOW where the rotor was pointing. WELL..when you remove the gear off of the distributor. YOU MUST take very special attention on how it comes off....and its position!!!!! BECAUSE...you can easily spin the gear 180 degrees and pin it in place....BUT WHEN you go to put the distributor back in...the rotor will NOT be in the same location. SO...pay attention!
DUB
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 318
Likes: 8
From: Houston Texas
Sorry for causing some of the confusion to my questions as I know my definitions may not be correct. I have the tach gear for the cable out. The tach gear that I am talking about is the top gear on the shaft it self. The top gear on the shaft is hitting what I call the the bushing at the top of the distributor as I am try to pull the shaft out of the top unless the shaft pulls out the bottom which means I need to remove a few more items from the top of the shaft? Getting closer guys thanks for putting up with my novice explanation...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Sorry for causing some of the confusion to my questions as I know my definitions may not be correct. I have the tach gear for the cable out. The tach gear that I am talking about is the top gear on the shaft it self. The top gear on the shaft is hitting what I call the the bushing at the top of the distributor as I am try to pull the shaft out of the top unless the shaft pulls out the bottom which means I need to remove a few more items from the top of the shaft? Getting closer guys thanks for putting up with my novice explanation...
I have had many main shafts be really hard to get out. I will often times apply 50/50 mix of acetone and automatic transmission fluid from the bottom and spin the shaft and also from the top and also through the hole in the side of the main housing of the distributor to get things to free up.
DUB
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 318
Likes: 8
From: Houston Texas
I seriously doubt that the gear on the main shaft is causing the problem...I would BET that it is either the end of the shaft where the roll pin was installed...or built up crud on the main shaft that is getting bound up on a bushing when you are trying to pull it out.
I have had many main shafts be really hard to get out. I will often times apply 50/50 mix of acetone and automatic transmission fluid from the bottom and spin the shaft and also from the top and also through the hole in the side of the main housing of the distributor to get things to free up.
DUB
I have had many main shafts be really hard to get out. I will often times apply 50/50 mix of acetone and automatic transmission fluid from the bottom and spin the shaft and also from the top and also through the hole in the side of the main housing of the distributor to get things to free up.
DUB
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
It's been a long time since I rebuilt a distributor, but there is a thin clip that holds the grease cup cover in place. I can't remember if that would prevent the shaft from being withdrawn.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,796
Likes: 1,197
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Have a look here
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ourney-27.html
I have pictures from when I rebuilt mine, may help.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ourney-27.html
I have pictures from when I rebuilt mine, may help.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 318
Likes: 8
From: Houston Texas
Thanks guys again I just needed to be a little more aggressive and it came right out because of my lack of experience I was concerned about damaging something but its all good now thanks a lot... Any advice... I'm putting it back together any tricks that I need to make sure I do correctly
Last edited by C3s4me; Feb 12, 2016 at 06:03 PM.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Northern CO
