Another distributor question

Is that shaft supposed to stay inside the tractor/block housing that holds the distributor assembly?

I'm afraid that when I set it back in, it may drop in and be hard to find.

thoughts? One end of that hex or octagonal shaft is wearing down...shiny metal and beginning to round over. Insights are appreciated.

9N'er

It coming out with the distributor is really a blessing. This shaft becoming rounded is what usually is the death of the Hundred series engine. When it wears enough to allow it to turn in the oil pump it is curtains for the engine. I have never seen anyone catch the oil pressure drop in time to save the engine.

Replace the shaft now.

Do not replace it in the oil pump until you have a new one.

You can install the new shaft by pushing a length of rubber hose over the end of it and carefully push it home into the female of the oil pump shaft inside the crankcase.

When it is installed then use a length of wire from a coat hanger to push the rubber hose off the end of the shaft by inserting it into the center of the hose and while holding the hose push with the wire until the hose is loose them pull them both out.

Install the distributor and turn it unti the shaft aligns so the distributor will go down to the block then time it.

that's good idea. Replacing it now is a smart move. thanks. I went through my parts book, can't seem to find the part number. From what I can tell "it looks like" part number EAF 6646 B (shaft oil pump intermediate 134), or EAF 6646D (Shaft oil pump intermediate).

Am I looking at the right part? and if I am, which one for the 172 RED TIGER. Can you provide this knowledge too Zane? THANKS. tom

I don't really know the part number.???

Zane

Yep, have all those pieces in the attached photo.

At the bottom of the shaft, it has been hollowed out with a hex shaped bore. On my tractor (850...sorry here guys, but the response on this board for the occasional 100 series question I have is rapid and I appreciate that) another spline or hex shaped shaft then slides into the bottom of the above pictured shaft.

This is what came out this time with the distributor and I suspect it mates with another hex shaped bore inside the tractor and this is what powers the distributor shaft and rotor to spin.

Just wondering why it came out, and how do I ensure it seats inside the tractor if it falls out of the above shaft and into the tractor.

ideas?

9N'er

BUT....seems to me that there are some distributors driven off the engine oilpump with some sort of hex drive. but this is beyound my experience. I know my VW Diesel has a vacuum pump for the power brakes driven by the oilpump just like the gas VW engine distributor is driven by the oil pump..... ..... Dell

You are correct. I posted the same question on the Ford board, and a fella there said it drives the oil pump. You can see his message there. THANK YOU. As always, I appreciate the help. And, you know, Kerchoff was ahead of his time after-all wasn't he? I mean, I'm living in 2002 and still don't 'quite understand his theory! tom