Distributor side gear problem
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
Likes: 6,328
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Distributor side gear problem (gtr1999)
gtr -
I've tried various shafts and cross gears and have run into similar issues. I have had 100% success with the mainshafts and crossgears supplied by Mid America Designs. The only thing you have to do to their mainshaft is to grind the chamfers on the bottom of the shaft so it will engage easily with the oil pump drive.
I've tried various shafts and cross gears and have run into similar issues. I have had 100% success with the mainshafts and crossgears supplied by Mid America Designs. The only thing you have to do to their mainshaft is to grind the chamfers on the bottom of the shaft so it will engage easily with the oil pump drive.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
Likes: 6,328
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Distributor side gear problem (gtr1999)
Gary -
On assembly, make sure you check the thrust surface for the cross gear inside your distributor housing - I have seen these worn deep enough that the new gear, when installed, will recess itself into the recess dug by the old gear. This will cause the teeth on the new cross gear to jam into the distributor housing and the assembly will not rotate. I have had to fabricate custom thrust buttons for a lot of distributors in order to save the housing and to get the cross gear to operate properly.
On assembly, make sure you check the thrust surface for the cross gear inside your distributor housing - I have seen these worn deep enough that the new gear, when installed, will recess itself into the recess dug by the old gear. This will cause the teeth on the new cross gear to jam into the distributor housing and the assembly will not rotate. I have had to fabricate custom thrust buttons for a lot of distributors in order to save the housing and to get the cross gear to operate properly.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Distributor side gear problem (lars)
Thanks Lars, I'm workingon 2 1974 distributors with the plastic button in them. The button didn't look bad and the new side gaer was about .060" deeper on the button end compared to the old ones. the new side gear has a brass shoulder on the end vs the stock steel one. I tried it in 2 housings with the same problem. It should be back in GA by Thursday too.
:thumbs:
Gary
:thumbs:
Gary
