The Ford Barn

Bob from Northport · 12-13-2020, 08:53 AM

After the distributor has been disassembled, cleaned and ready for reassembly, what do some of you use to lubricate the shaft and bushings that will hopefully last???

Kurt in NJ · 12-13-2020, 09:31 AM

If you lubricate as described in the owners instruction book the upper bushing is lubed , it's not just a couple of drops, the instructions are to fill it full, I put a rag under the fitting and squirt the fitting full with the oil can, assembling with grease will inhibit oil flow

redmodelt · 12-13-2020, 09:32 AM

There is an oiler on the distributor or get the drilled upper shaft, so it can be lubed in service, you should not need a grease that last. I wipe a little grease on the shaft when assembling the distributor, using the same grease as used on the chassis. If it is going back on a running car, oil should work too.

jb-ob · 12-13-2020, 10:06 AM

Bob,

Please define "hopefully last", as both of us are 60 plus ?

How many miles do you drive in a season ? The oiling procedure as described above by Kirt was to done every five hundred miles as per Ford.

My experience with the 'new & improved' drilled upper shaft is if not allowed to drain down, it will sling a mist of oil over the contacts in the body as well as the points them self.

My $.02, you mileage may vary. jb

Bob Bidonde · 12-13-2020, 10:22 AM

I have not reliably put oil in the distributor, and I have not yet worn out a set of shaft bushings.

Bob from Northport · 12-13-2020, 05:15 PM

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This is what a shaft looks like when an owner does not do any maintenance on an engine.
Most of the cars and trucks that come into my shop have not had the hoods open since the Eisenhower administration. They don't check or change oil. They use ethanol gas and have tons of water in the tanks. Cars are never greased. Tires pressure never checked. And the distributor is NEVER oiled in its life.
I was simply looking for something to put on that might help to keep the shaft oiled and free after its leaves the shop to help drivers. They simply don't take the time to look under the hood and take care of them.

Patrick L. · 12-13-2020, 05:29 PM

Grease and oil-lite bushings don't get along well together.

redmodelt · 12-13-2020, 06:36 PM

Not everyone uses oil-lite bushings, but could you explain why they don't get along with grease? This what we use; https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/P...earchByKeyword

jb-ob · 12-13-2020, 07:39 PM

Remember the old commercial, "You can pay me now or you can pay me later"

In another era when this was a capitalist country you might have suggested a maintenance schedule.

No worries, with new the enlightenment gas will be $19.95 a gallon to save the environment, no one will be driving. Problem solved.

Best to Glenn.

J Franklin · 12-13-2020, 08:30 PM

I just use some grease on assembly.

GRutter · 12-13-2020, 08:52 PM

Bob -
Replace with oil-lite bushings, such as those from Snyders.
Lubricate only with lightweight machine oil. Never grease as pointed out above. The bushings are porous, but will only absorb lightweight oil (hence no grease).
Some say that oil-lite bushings should never need oiling.
The original oiler on the distributor body was fine.
The vendors sell a drilled upper shaft that assists in oiling the upper bushing.

Your image shows an upper shaft that is rusty. It is quite common to see lower distributor shafts badly rusted due to condensation. It appears that condensation was also present in the distributor you are repairing.

JBill · 12-13-2020, 09:22 PM

Are these oil-lite bushings the same as graphite bushings? Or just as good? Or just as bad?

jb-ob · 12-13-2020, 09:33 PM

GR brings up the point that the Model A distributor trapped condensation in the cavity below it. The 'Improved Four' B distributor had a flat spot ground in the lower body to vent this condensation.

Bob from Northport · 12-13-2020, 10:39 PM

Happy Holidays jb. Thanks for the input. Glenn just bought a 59 TR-3. 90 years old and still in the game..................

katy · 12-14-2020, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob from Northport

After the distributor has been disassembled, cleaned and ready for reassembly, what do some of you use to lubricate the shaft and bushings that will hopefully last???

I like to use gear oil or chain saw bar oil, whichever is handiest.

Patrick L. · 12-14-2020, 04:44 PM

Oil-lite should be 'loaded' before installation. I set it in the palm and fill with oil, lay my other hand over it to apply pressure, wait until the oil bleeds thru the bushing. Then its ready to put in.

Grease fills in the pours and ends up burning.

MrBruce · 12-14-2020, 04:53 PM

Bob
The picture that REDMODELT posted from Snyders look like Clevite bushings which were the original bushings on the Model T's and Model A's. The black dots inside the bushings is graphite, which is why they lasted as long as they did. When I left Clevite I got a box of them for rebuilding distributors. I use Clevite engine assembly lube, which stays for some time and lubes the shaft.

12-13-2020, 08:53 AM	#1
Bob from Northport Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: 215 E. 6th Street Northport, Michigan 49670 Posts: 941	Distributor question After the distributor has been disassembled, cleaned and ready for reassembly, what do some of you use to lubricate the shaft and bushings that will hopefully last??? __________________ Bob from Northport Northport, Michigan

12-13-2020, 09:31 AM	#2
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Distributor question If you lubricate as described in the owners instruction book the upper bushing is lubed , it's not just a couple of drops, the instructions are to fill it full, I put a rag under the fitting and squirt the fitting full with the oil can, assembling with grease will inhibit oil flow

12-13-2020, 09:32 AM	#3
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: Distributor question There is an oiler on the distributor or get the drilled upper shaft, so it can be lubed in service, you should not need a grease that last. I wipe a little grease on the shaft when assembling the distributor, using the same grease as used on the chassis. If it is going back on a running car, oil should work too. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

12-13-2020, 10:06 AM	#4
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 638	Re: Distributor question Bob, Please define "hopefully last", as both of us are 60 plus ? How many miles do you drive in a season ? The oiling procedure as described above by Kirt was to done every five hundred miles as per Ford. My experience with the 'new & improved' drilled upper shaft is if not allowed to drain down, it will sling a mist of oil over the contacts in the body as well as the points them self. My $.02, you mileage may vary. jb

12-13-2020, 10:22 AM	#5
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,464	Re: Distributor question I have not reliably put oil in the distributor, and I have not yet worn out a set of shaft bushings. __________________ Bob Bidonde

12-13-2020, 05:15 PM	#6
Bob from Northport Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: 215 E. 6th Street Northport, Michigan 49670 Posts: 941	Re: Distributor question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) This is what a shaft looks like when an owner does not do any maintenance on an engine. Most of the cars and trucks that come into my shop have not had the hoods open since the Eisenhower administration. They don't check or change oil. They use ethanol gas and have tons of water in the tanks. Cars are never greased. Tires pressure never checked. And the distributor is NEVER oiled in its life. I was simply looking for something to put on that might help to keep the shaft oiled and free after its leaves the shop to help drivers. They simply don't take the time to look under the hood and take care of them. __________________ Bob from Northport Northport, Michigan Last edited by Bob from Northport; 01-24-2022 at 09:39 PM.

12-13-2020, 05:29 PM	#7
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Distributor question Grease and oil-lite bushings don't get along well together.

12-13-2020, 06:36 PM	#8
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: Distributor question Not everyone uses oil-lite bushings, but could you explain why they don't get along with grease? This what we use; https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/P...earchByKeyword __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

12-13-2020, 07:39 PM	#9
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 638	Re: Distributor question Remember the old commercial, "You can pay me now or you can pay me later" In another era when this was a capitalist country you might have suggested a maintenance schedule. No worries, with new the enlightenment gas will be $19.95 a gallon to save the environment, no one will be driving. Problem solved. Best to Glenn.

12-13-2020, 08:30 PM	#10
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Distributor question I just use some grease on assembly.

12-13-2020, 08:52 PM	#11
GRutter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Mint Hill, North Carolina Posts: 386	Re: Distributor question Bob - Replace with oil-lite bushings, such as those from Snyders. Lubricate only with lightweight machine oil. Never grease as pointed out above. The bushings are porous, but will only absorb lightweight oil (hence no grease). Some say that oil-lite bushings should never need oiling. The original oiler on the distributor body was fine. The vendors sell a drilled upper shaft that assists in oiling the upper bushing. Your image shows an upper shaft that is rusty. It is quite common to see lower distributor shafts badly rusted due to condensation. It appears that condensation was also present in the distributor you are repairing.

12-13-2020, 09:22 PM	#12
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Distributor question Are these oil-lite bushings the same as graphite bushings? Or just as good? Or just as bad?

12-13-2020, 09:33 PM	#13
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 638	Re: Distributor question GR brings up the point that the Model A distributor trapped condensation in the cavity below it. The 'Improved Four' B distributor had a flat spot ground in the lower body to vent this condensation.

12-13-2020, 10:39 PM	#14
Bob from Northport Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: 215 E. 6th Street Northport, Michigan 49670 Posts: 941	Re: Distributor question Happy Holidays jb. Thanks for the input. Glenn just bought a 59 TR-3. 90 years old and still in the game.................. __________________ Bob from Northport Northport, Michigan

12-14-2020, 04:44 PM	#16
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Distributor question Oil-lite should be 'loaded' before installation. I set it in the palm and fill with oil, lay my other hand over it to apply pressure, wait until the oil bleeds thru the bushing. Then its ready to put in. Grease fills in the pours and ends up burning.

12-14-2020, 04:53 PM	#17
MrBruce Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 310	Re: Distributor question Bob The picture that REDMODELT posted from Snyders look like Clevite bushings which were the original bushings on the Model T's and Model A's. The black dots inside the bushings is graphite, which is why they lasted as long as they did. When I left Clevite I got a box of them for rebuilding distributors. I use Clevite engine assembly lube, which stays for some time and lubes the shaft.