Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-05-2020, 10:21 PM   #1
Sparky
Senior Member
 
Sparky's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 649
Default Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

I was doing a routine check of my points a couple weeks back and I noticed the rotor was wobbling on the cam. It looked like the shallow molded ribs on the ID that made it fit snugly on the cam had worn down. I got a new one and it fits like it should. The old one was only a few years old and I’m sure it fit properly when new. Bad quality, or engine vibration causing wear?
Sparky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 06:12 AM   #2
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

Hmmm, thats another of life's wonderments.
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-06-2020, 08:06 AM   #3
Mike Peters
Senior Member
 
Mike Peters's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: South East Wisconsin
Posts: 1,279
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

Did you notice that your ignition timing was becoming more and more retarded with the loose rotor? It would not hurt to check ignition timing with your new rotor installed.
Mike Peters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 09:49 AM   #4
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,004
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

You could try putting a piece off a plastic bag over the shaft before putting the rotor on.
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 11:13 AM   #5
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

Never heard of that. I would think that the rotor is supposed to be tight enough for little movement. A loose rotor out of the box is the only way for that to happen I believe.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 12:16 PM   #6
Sparky
Senior Member
 
Sparky's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 649
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Peters View Post
Did you notice that your ignition timing was becoming more and more retarded with the loose rotor? It would not hurt to check ignition timing with your new rotor installed.
No, the little nub that fits in the slot of the cam was tight, so the timing was unaffected. It was actually running fine, I just noticed it while checking other things.

I got the new one from Bert’s; it is a proper snug fit.
Sparky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 01:51 PM   #7
Aarongriffey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Hayward,CA
Posts: 513
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

The rotor won’t change the timing.
The spark occurs when the points open. The rotor has nothing to do with timing.
The rotor needs to be pointing to the proper terminal on the cap when the points open to fire that cylinder.
Aarongriffey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 04:42 PM   #8
Purdy Swoft
Senior Member
 
Purdy Swoft's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 8,099
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

If the rotor tip isn't pointing in the correct way the timing will be off when the points open
. Where the rotor tip points is where the spark is sent . The distributor cam can be loosened and adjusted when the timing pin drops in place . the spark happens , just as the points open .

Last edited by Purdy Swoft; 09-06-2020 at 04:47 PM.
Purdy Swoft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 07:03 PM   #9
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,471
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

I had a new rotor where the tab on the inside was so small that it slipped on the cam. It took a while on the side of the road to find the issue when the car stopped with so much back firing that it sounded like WW3. It wasn't a matter of wear, the tab was smooth and shiny, just like the rest of the brand new rotor so it was a dud from the factory.
All that said, I have seen them with the spring steel tab where the carbon button in the cap runs has been corroded/worn through and even broken off. I had one break in the middle of the never never one time and had to bend up a new piece out of shim brass to keep me going. It worked so well that I felt a touch of regret when I put a new rotor button on.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2020, 01:46 PM   #10
bbrocksr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 913
Default Re: Ever have a distributor rotor wear out?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aarongriffey View Post
The rotor won’t change the timing.
The spark occurs when the points open. The rotor has nothing to do with timing.
The rotor needs to be pointing to the proper terminal on the cap when the points open to fire that cylinder.
Right, Best answer!
Bill
bbrocksr is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:56 AM.