The Ford Barn

MotownMachine · 12-04-2021, 08:59 PM

Hi all. I had a question about the distributor rotor and could not find information anywhere else. It looks like my rotor is sitting too low and will not make contact with the spark plugs. I am getting spark at the points and the rotor spins when turning over. Is there any way to adjust this, or does the rotor contact normally sit lower than the spark plug points?

Thanks

wwirz · 12-04-2021, 09:15 PM

No. The rotor should not be sitting lower than the points. Hard for me to think about how this could happen. Did you remove the cam? In this forum there are pictures on correct location of the rotor when the Model A is properly timed. Do you have the Les Andrews "RED BOOK"? There are many illustrations in there as well as much infomration on how to service your A.. Send me an EMAIL and I can send more info to you. Also be sure to join a local Model A club.

MotownMachine · 12-04-2021, 10:51 PM

Cam has not been removed since I have owned it. Thanks for the advice. Found out last week that there is a local club in the next county over.

1crosscut · 12-05-2021, 12:44 AM

You do not want the rotor to actually touch the contacts on the inside of the distributor body. There needs to be a gap. This thread should help.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...sure+rotor+gap

Brentwood Bob · 12-05-2021, 12:53 AM

Missing the lock washer under the large flathead screw that holds the cam in place?

john charlton · 12-05-2021, 04:17 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have found this problem where the rotor contact is too low .I cure this by using the phenolic washer from the distributor input (from my dist spares box)I put the washer in the rotor which raises the rotor for correct alignment . This does not seem to make the rotor wobbly and works just fine .Do not try to bend the rotor contact even if you can the rotor contact could be too close . If you dont have that washer a flat shirt button will do .

John in Bath Somerset County England weekend with eldest daughter and granddaughter partly cloudy with sunny spells .

Bob Bidonde · 12-05-2021, 08:45 AM

These slides may help you:

Bruce Newbery · 12-05-2021, 09:56 AM

I had a similar problem but my rotor was to high. I had a new distributor body that was to low and caused a premature rotor failure . I suggest you get a origin Ford body and measure and compare the two. Some of these replacement parts are not up to Ford spec.

12-04-2021, 08:59 PM	#1
MotownMachine Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 6	Rotor Height Hi all. I had a question about the distributor rotor and could not find information anywhere else. It looks like my rotor is sitting too low and will not make contact with the spark plugs. I am getting spark at the points and the rotor spins when turning over. Is there any way to adjust this, or does the rotor contact normally sit lower than the spark plug points? Thanks

12-04-2021, 09:15 PM	#2
wwirz Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Corning NY Posts: 244	Re: Rotor Height No. The rotor should not be sitting lower than the points. Hard for me to think about how this could happen. Did you remove the cam? In this forum there are pictures on correct location of the rotor when the Model A is properly timed. Do you have the Les Andrews "RED BOOK"? There are many illustrations in there as well as much infomration on how to service your A.. Send me an EMAIL and I can send more info to you. Also be sure to join a local Model A club.

12-04-2021, 10:51 PM	#3
MotownMachine Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 6	Re: Rotor Height Cam has not been removed since I have owned it. Thanks for the advice. Found out last week that there is a local club in the next county over.

12-05-2021, 12:44 AM	#4
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,907	Re: Rotor Height You do not want the rotor to actually touch the contacts on the inside of the distributor body. There needs to be a gap. This thread should help. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...sure+rotor+gap __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

12-05-2021, 12:53 AM	#5
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,234	Re: Rotor Height Missing the lock washer under the large flathead screw that holds the cam in place?

12-05-2021, 04:17 AM	#6
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,304	Re: Rotor Height Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have found this problem where the rotor contact is too low .I cure this by using the phenolic washer from the distributor input (from my dist spares box)I put the washer in the rotor which raises the rotor for correct alignment . This does not seem to make the rotor wobbly and works just fine .Do not try to bend the rotor contact even if you can the rotor contact could be too close . If you dont have that washer a flat shirt button will do . John in Bath Somerset County England weekend with eldest daughter and granddaughter partly cloudy with sunny spells .

12-05-2021, 09:56 AM	#8
Bruce Newbery Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williams Lake B.C. Canada Posts: 50	Re: Rotor Height I had a similar problem but my rotor was to high. I had a new distributor body that was to low and caused a premature rotor failure . I suggest you get a origin Ford body and measure and compare the two. Some of these replacement parts are not up to Ford spec.