Re: Distributor Troubles - 65 Rambler

[Jonathan Jusczyk <jusczj@xxxxxxx>]

Brian Hagen wrote:

> Ok...but how come I cant move it again?  If i try to turn the "key" at 
> the top of the distributor it doesnt move with my power... so how did 
> wigglin it out do it?
What do you mean the "key"?  I think you are referring to the rotor, 
which is the little plastic piece with a metal contact on the end that 
spins and touches the inside of the cap.  Now my question is are you 
trying to move it with the distributor installed?  If so, it's GOOD that 
you can't move it!  The way it works is that the engine spins, and this 
causes the camshaft to spin through the timing chain.  The distributor 
is DRIVEN by the camshaft (through the worm gear), and then the 
distributor DRIVES the oil pump (through the flat end on the bottom).  
So if you are trying to rotate the oil pump while the distributor is 
bolted down, you would also have to spin the entire engine.  With the 
distributor removed the, the oil pump will spin freely.  This is what 
you want to do before starting a new engine, with the distributor you 
basically stick a big flat bit on the end of a drill and spin the oil 
pump to prime the oiling system.

Hope some of this makes sense, my brain is pretty fried from doing 
quantum physics all day(!) and thought it would help to explain 
something mechanical that I know how it actually works.

Jonathan Jusczyk

1973 AMC Javelin