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 02-14-2020, 03:19 PM   #1
walkerlakeprinter
Senior Member
 
walkerlakeprinter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walker Lake, Nevada
Posts: 304
Default Spark Control rod lubrication

Should the spring end of the control rod that goes from the steering column to the distributor upper plate be lubricated? The end of the plate arm has a ball fitting that came loose on mine..... Is there a way to keep it from coming loose? I am trying contact cement, but the thought crossed my mind that it might have less friction on it if I put a little grease inside the end of the rod.
Thoughts?
walkerlakeprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2020, 05:21 PM   #2
Fullraceflathead
Senior Member
 
Fullraceflathead's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chillicothe, Missouri
Posts: 1,156
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

all of the small Balls should be greased.
__________________
"If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses."
-Henry Ford

"Primitive technology is not a design flaw"


1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup
1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor
1941 Willy's Pickup
1960 Thunderbird-For Sale
1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425
1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty
2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper
1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet
Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford
Engine Build up on DVD ask
Fullraceflathead is online now   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 02-14-2020, 05:49 PM   #3
Gary WA
Senior Member
 
Gary WA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island
Posts: 4,088
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

also two lube points on top of the linkage behind engine on each end at the top-
oil
__________________
www.whidbeymodelaclub.com
Gary WA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2020, 05:52 PM   #4
walkerlakeprinter
Senior Member
 
walkerlakeprinter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walker Lake, Nevada
Posts: 304
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

Thanks. I thought so. Got 'em all greased.
walkerlakeprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2020, 05:34 PM   #5
walkerlakeprinter
Senior Member
 
walkerlakeprinter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walker Lake, Nevada
Posts: 304
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

Well, contact cement didn't work to hold the ball stud on the distributor upper plate. Maybe I could solder it by heating it up and doing it like we do with copper sweat fittings? I'm trying to fix it without having to remove the upper plate and disturbing the timing.
walkerlakeprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2020, 06:25 PM   #6
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
This a frequent problem with upper plates. The rivet that holds the point stud on and the one that holds the control ball on are the two that are frequently loose. I have tried using a punch to flatten the rivet and tighten it more but with little success. I do not think solder would work, but it may be worth a try.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2020, 07:02 PM   #7
walkerlakeprinter
Senior Member
 
walkerlakeprinter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walker Lake, Nevada
Posts: 304
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

I will try. I will let you know......but still open for more ideas.
walkerlakeprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2020, 07:05 PM   #8
walkerlakeprinter
Senior Member
 
walkerlakeprinter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walker Lake, Nevada
Posts: 304
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

Today, I found out that the last time I retarded the spark, the rod had come off and pushed the distributor body off the base far enough to dislodge the connection to the #4 spark plug. The car started and ran, but sure didn't sound right. I saw a VERY healthy spark jumping more than an inch to the brass connector.
walkerlakeprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2020, 07:18 PM   #9
Gary WA
Senior Member
 
Gary WA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island
Posts: 4,088
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

why not just replace the upper plate? Easy to do!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg walter dripping nose.jpg (19.0 KB, 6 views)
__________________
www.whidbeymodelaclub.com
Gary WA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2020, 07:06 AM   #10
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

I would just replace the plate at this point as Gary said.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2020, 05:18 PM   #11
walkerlakeprinter
Senior Member
 
walkerlakeprinter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walker Lake, Nevada
Posts: 304
Default Re: Spark Control rod lubrication

Yup. That's what I'm going to do.....replace the upper plate. Everything failed up to now. I'm going to contact cement it again so I can start and move the car while waiting for the new upper plate.
walkerlakeprinter 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 08:59 AM.