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Er, um... is the dist cam supposed to rotate on the shaft?

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OKRon

06-24-2001 12:50:19




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Still wondering why I can't set my timing like the FO-4 manual says... I took the distributor over to good ol' Albert's house today. He is a retired aircraft mechanic. He never had a front mount N, but he did once have a side-mount. So after we verified the point gap, found where, as he called it, the "e-gap" was, he decided that something is amiss with this distributor. We took it apart so he could look at the centrifugal advance (I got the whole history of the evolution of spark advance from the 1930's to the present). He said the weights, which move only a little on this distributor, are supposed to move the entire length of the slots (that makes sense). These weights do not move, he said, because he the cam is frozen on the shaft. Gentle tapping would not get it loose so I am soaking it in Marvel oil.

Albert thought at first that the tractor should still start, but after studying the manual and the distributor for a while he concluded that the static timing could be so far out that it won't start. He also suggested that I find the old distributor plate and points (I replaced these when I replaced the bushings) and compare them to the new parts I have installed to make sure I didn't get bad parts. I'll dig around the garage some.

Are we onto something here? I don't know about someone who once had an N but doesn't have one now.

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Big Mike

06-26-2001 00:34:38




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 Re: Er, um... is the dist cam supposed to rotate on the shaft? in reply to OKRon, 06-24-2001 12:50:19  
A cheap easy temp fix might be to drop the pan again and pull pistons and hone clys and put new rings on....just a thought. If you have the time and $$$ for a complete rebuild do that. Back in 1990 we sold our only N that we owned at the time.To replace it I bought a 8N that had been sitting for 25 years in a field took the motor apart and did a cheap rebuild on it, rings ,rods and mains. Its still running ok but it will need a rebuild soon as it likes to foul the #3 plug frequently..... Big Mike

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Big Mike

06-24-2001 15:32:54




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 Re: Er, um... is the dist cam supposed to rotate on the shaft? in reply to OKRon, 06-24-2001 12:50:19  
While I have not commented on your battle with the dist as of yet I have followed along scratching my head wondering how come your having so much trouble with setting the timing. I have done 15 or so dist rebuilds on front mounts and never had any problems. Sounds to me that your friend may just have found the problem. Keep in mind that a motor with comp readings as low as yours are needs all the help it can get to start.I really hate to say it but the engine needs one of two things a rebuild or a 12volt conversion...the 12 volt will spin the engine faster to get it going. I have all 6volt systems in my tractors but they have good compression..... .Big Mike

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OKRon

06-24-2001 16:52:31




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 Re: Re: Er, um... is the dist cam supposed to rotate on the shaft? in reply to Big Mike, 06-24-2001 15:32:54  
Big Mike, you're breakin my heart, but you may be right. It already has a 12 system. After a couple of hours in Marvel oil the cam and weights came free and now the timing looks closer to right on the distributor, although I had to push the timing plate all the way to the top to make it so.

Got it all back together and it still won't start. Right now I have dry compression of 65 in all cylinders, but I was holding on to hope of what another friend told me about compression after the work I had done. When I lapped the valves I did drop the oil pan to look for pieces of broken rings, etc. (The pan was clean.) I also cleaned out everything (pistons, valves, oil pan
with gasoline. Just before I put the cylinder head back on I poured Marvel oil down the pistons so they would have some lube. My friend suggested that maybe the reason for my low compression after the valve job was that there was not enough oil on the pistons, since marvel oil is pretty thin. Soooo...

Before I give in for a rebuild, should I remove the head, and pour motor oil on the pistons to see if that brings the compression up enough to start it? Or is it the consensus of this august body that I need to throw in the towel and rebuild it now?

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Dell (WA)

06-24-2001 19:06:45




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 Re: Re: Re: Er, um... is the dist cam supposed to rotate on the shaft? in reply to OKRon, 06-24-2001 16:52:31  
Ron..... ...ya donna haff to remove the cylinderhead, juss squirt yer heavier oil, 30wt motor oil, 90wt gear oil, whatever ya gotts, inna the sparkie holes. Donna squirt too much, ya donna wanna hydraulic lock your pistons. The MMO is onna the thin side but its gudd stuff..... ..Dell



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Claus

06-24-2001 14:02:10




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 Re: Er, um... is the dist cam supposed to rotate on the shaft? in reply to OKRon, 06-24-2001 12:50:19  
Yes, the cam should rotate on the shaft and then spring back. Usually the problem with these assemblies is that the springs get worn down. A new assembly goes for about $65.00 and is readily availbale.
Happy Motoring
Claus



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