The Ford Barn

dangerz · 09-21-2014, 09:04 AM

Hello I just bought a 29 tudor (all stock) yesterday and while driving it home it started running rough then quit all together. When I checked to see if the points were opening , the distributor doesnt turn when the motor turns over. Is there a pin that may have sheared ? Thanks in advance

TinCup · 09-21-2014, 09:59 AM

One way to find out is to pull the distributor. You may have either a one piece or 2 piece distributor shaft that may have broken. It is driven by the oil pump drive gear off of the cam so that is where to look next. The next point of failure will be the timing gear.

kingbee · 09-21-2014, 10:54 AM

Try checking to see if the distributor cam is tight on the shaft. Just try turning the rotor by hand. There should be a little mechanical play, but no more. If you can spin it around, that's your problem.

abachman3 · 09-21-2014, 11:02 AM

You can put the timing pin in and crank the motor. If you do not ever get to the detent it is not turning.

Y-Blockhead · 09-21-2014, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abachman3

You can put the timing pin in and crank the motor. If you do not ever get to the detent it is not turning.

We can assume by "crank the motor" you mean by hand??

Tom Endy · 09-21-2014, 11:57 AM

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Sounds like a failed fiber timing gear. A easy way to check. Remove the timing pin on the front of the engine. Use a mirror and a flashlight; turn the engine with a crank and see if the timing gear is turning.

Tom Endy

dangerz · 09-21-2014, 12:39 PM

Must be the timing gear I pulled the timing pin and cranked the engine it feels like it did not move . Is it easier to pull the engine to change the cam gear ?

Tom Endy · 09-21-2014, 12:49 PM

You can change the timing gear without pulling the engine. it is easier if you remove the radiator. You also should loosen the rear motor mount bolts so as not to crack the clutch housing when you jack the front of the engine up. If the cam nut is an original Model A nut you will need a special socket wrench most suppliers sell. Quite often a chisel is employed to remove and tighten this type of nut.

Tom Endy

dangerz · 09-21-2014, 02:30 PM

Does anyone recommend which type of gear fiber/metal ??

Dick M · 09-21-2014, 05:14 PM

I replaced the fiber timing gear about 20k miles ago. It recently failed. I installed a new aluminum timing gear. It is not noisy. I do not expect to replace the aluminum timing gear in my lifetime.

09-21-2014, 09:04 AM	#1
dangerz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 19	distributor problems Hello I just bought a 29 tudor (all stock) yesterday and while driving it home it started running rough then quit all together. When I checked to see if the points were opening , the distributor doesnt turn when the motor turns over. Is there a pin that may have sheared ? Thanks in advance

09-21-2014, 09:59 AM	#2
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: distributor problems One way to find out is to pull the distributor. You may have either a one piece or 2 piece distributor shaft that may have broken. It is driven by the oil pump drive gear off of the cam so that is where to look next. The next point of failure will be the timing gear. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

09-21-2014, 10:54 AM	#3
kingbee Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northern Chicago suburb Posts: 105	Re: distributor problems Try checking to see if the distributor cam is tight on the shaft. Just try turning the rotor by hand. There should be a little mechanical play, but no more. If you can spin it around, that's your problem.

09-21-2014, 11:02 AM	#4
abachman3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Western Springs, IL Posts: 323	Re: distributor problems You can put the timing pin in and crank the motor. If you do not ever get to the detent it is not turning.

09-21-2014, 11:57 AM	#6
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: distributor problems Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Sounds like a failed fiber timing gear. A easy way to check. Remove the timing pin on the front of the engine. Use a mirror and a flashlight; turn the engine with a crank and see if the timing gear is turning. Tom Endy

09-21-2014, 12:39 PM	#7
dangerz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 19	Re: distributor problems Must be the timing gear I pulled the timing pin and cranked the engine it feels like it did not move . Is it easier to pull the engine to change the cam gear ?

09-21-2014, 12:49 PM	#8
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: distributor problems You can change the timing gear without pulling the engine. it is easier if you remove the radiator. You also should loosen the rear motor mount bolts so as not to crack the clutch housing when you jack the front of the engine up. If the cam nut is an original Model A nut you will need a special socket wrench most suppliers sell. Quite often a chisel is employed to remove and tighten this type of nut. Tom Endy

09-21-2014, 02:30 PM	#9
dangerz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 19	Re: distributor problems Does anyone recommend which type of gear fiber/metal ??

09-21-2014, 05:14 PM	#10
Dick M Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ukiah, CA Posts: 477	Re: distributor problems I replaced the fiber timing gear about 20k miles ago. It recently failed. I installed a new aluminum timing gear. It is not noisy. I do not expect to replace the aluminum timing gear in my lifetime.