The Ford Barn

JBohannon · 09-03-2017, 08:33 PM

I am replacing my distributor so I pulled it and lower shaft. Lower shaft is very dry and corroded. Does it not get oil from oil pump ?

700rpm · 09-03-2017, 08:40 PM

No. There is an oiler on the side of the distributor, and also you can buy an upper shaft with a cross hole and a cam screw with an oil hole in it. It should be part of your regular lube schedule. I have always thought this got oil onto the lower shaft, but I may be wrong about that.

Jerold Ebke · 09-03-2017, 10:29 PM

I have the new shaft and screw with the hole.
How are you people getting the oil down the hole?
When I try to place a drop of oil on the screw, it just seems to bridge over the hole and not penetrate.
I read somewhere to use 30 weight oil in the top shaft and seems thick to penetrate that skinny hole.

Larry Jenkins · 09-03-2017, 10:36 PM

Use a pump oiler with 10W 30 oil. One way. Other is to clean out the original way.

Tom Wesenberg · 09-03-2017, 10:45 PM

I always give the shafts a good coat of grease in hopes it will keep them from rusting.

I coat the distributor part that slips into the head with anti-seize.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 09-03-2017, 10:51 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I just squirt turbine oil down the hole. It's worked for 33,000 miles.

Mike V. Florida · 09-03-2017, 10:57 PM

Oiling the Distributor
The distributor should be kept clean and well oiled. Put oil
in the oil cup at the side of the distributor every 500 miles. Add
sufficient oil to reach the level of the oil cup. Every 2000 miles
remove the distributor cap, clean the lobes of the cam and apply
a light film of vaseline.

Roger V · 09-04-2017, 08:23 AM

He's asking about the lower shaft, not the upper. Tom is about the only one addressing his question. I do the same as Tom suggests.

Big hammer · 09-04-2017, 08:39 AM

Would this be a place for plating,powder coating, japan black, etc but is a cheap shaft so grease it up and go!

Bob Bidonde · 09-04-2017, 08:46 AM

Oil from the pump does not get to the distributor drive shaft. Scuff, solvent clean and coat the drive shaft with POR-15.

09-03-2017, 08:33 PM	#1
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Distributor Oil I am replacing my distributor so I pulled it and lower shaft. Lower shaft is very dry and corroded. Does it not get oil from oil pump ?

09-03-2017, 08:40 PM	#2
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Distributor Oil No. There is an oiler on the side of the distributor, and also you can buy an upper shaft with a cross hole and a cam screw with an oil hole in it. It should be part of your regular lube schedule. I have always thought this got oil onto the lower shaft, but I may be wrong about that. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. Last edited by 700rpm; 09-04-2017 at 09:55 AM. Reason: Amplified my answer.

09-03-2017, 10:29 PM	#3
Jerold Ebke Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Nebraska Posts: 49	Re: Distributor Oil I have the new shaft and screw with the hole. How are you people getting the oil down the hole? When I try to place a drop of oil on the screw, it just seems to bridge over the hole and not penetrate. I read somewhere to use 30 weight oil in the top shaft and seems thick to penetrate that skinny hole.

09-03-2017, 10:36 PM	#4
Larry Jenkins BANNED Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: East Central Iowa Posts: 1,275	Re: Distributor Oil Use a pump oiler with 10W 30 oil. One way. Other is to clean out the original way. __________________ Good enough.. Isn't.

09-03-2017, 10:45 PM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Distributor Oil I always give the shafts a good coat of grease in hopes it will keep them from rusting. I coat the distributor part that slips into the head with anti-seize.

09-03-2017, 10:51 PM	#6
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Distributor Oil Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I just squirt turbine oil down the hole. It's worked for 33,000 miles.

09-03-2017, 10:57 PM	#7
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Distributor Oil Oiling the Distributor The distributor should be kept clean and well oiled. Put oil in the oil cup at the side of the distributor every 500 miles. Add sufficient oil to reach the level of the oil cup. Every 2000 miles remove the distributor cap, clean the lobes of the cam and apply a light film of vaseline. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

09-04-2017, 08:23 AM	#8
Roger V Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,593	Re: Distributor Oil He's asking about the lower shaft, not the upper. Tom is about the only one addressing his question. I do the same as Tom suggests.

09-04-2017, 08:39 AM	#9
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: Distributor Oil Would this be a place for plating,powder coating, japan black, etc but is a cheap shaft so grease it up and go! __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

09-04-2017, 08:46 AM	#10
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,464	Re: Distributor Oil Oil from the pump does not get to the distributor drive shaft. Scuff, solvent clean and coat the drive shaft with POR-15. __________________ Bob Bidonde