TO-20 Distributor Update

Now come the questions. My thrust plate is completely smooth on the backside - the side against the block. How is something like that going to keep the camshaft from coming forward if it can"t hold it back? Does that make sense? Is there something on the backside of a new thrust plate that sticks out and pushes on the camshaft? And that brings up - where do you get one of these things?

Jack, did you leave the huge thin washer in the mix when you put the 3/64 washer in or did you take it out? Your post on this was right on for what I found on my Fergie. Makes you wonder how many of these things have been switched out and don"t work correctly anymore.

It looks like when all this is working again several problems will be eliminated. As someone is fond of saying - when you go to the root problem - well you know. (BTW how are you all doing up in the fire region - must be a little spooky. I wish I could lasso this TS that just hit our coast and drag it up there.)

Special thanks to Jack(Grampa), Jerry, John(UK), and John P. It"s great to know people that are willing to take personal time and help you solve a problem with a 57 year old piece of equipment.

It"s not over, I still have to order parts and reassemble, etc. I teach school and - you get the picture. I"ll keep you updated.

BTW another parts soource - www.aicatalog.com - I have not seen that one listed anywhere on this forum.

Stan

The manual says you need a new thrust plate if the end play is excesive so obvoiusly the old one is worn. It must a a boss on it that takes any thrust and that's worn off.

The part number of the thust plate is 1 500 056 M1 and it is common to the TE/TO-20 and the TO-30. Now where to get it? Have you tried Sparex or an MF dealer? You can also try www.montesequipment.com who supposedly specializes in old Continental parts.
If worse comes to worst, and the thrustplate is made of steel, you might be able to have one made or build the old one up with welding and have it machined down to take up the measured end play.

Hope this helps you.(cough, cough!)

While we're not threatened directly by fires so far, you can't believe the volume of smoke here. We were in Lewistown, MT for the annual Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathrin'and it was smokey over there. Had ash on the car this morning and the nearest fire is probably 100 miles away! We're getting smoke from Idaho blowing up here also. Could use some rain as our irrigation water has run out.