351M distributor play

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Feb 10, 2015 | 05:55 PM

10129

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351M distributor play

How much play should there be in the rotor inside my distributor? Should I be able to rotate it by hand a few degrees and if so how much? Should it be spring loaded or fairly stiff? I'm trying to diagnose a backfiring issue before I try replacing the distributor.

Feb 10, 2015 | 06:43 PM

Tedster9

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From: Waterloo, Iowa

Yes it will have a little spring loaded action to it, and snap back.

Feb 11, 2015 | 06:13 AM

10129

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That is good to know. Mine has about 5 degrees of play but is very stiff with no spring to it. Hopefully a new distributor will solve my problem.

Feb 11, 2015 | 06:58 AM

Tedster9

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From: Waterloo, Iowa

If distributor has got any kind of higher mileage on it you'll be glad ya did. They get wallered out and gummed up. The spring action is actually part of the mechanical distributor advance. It shouldn't be sticking or anything like that. Depending on your engine and particular intended use the new distributor has a big part in making it run good, the weights, springs, and slot govern how much total timing advance comes in and when it comes in RPM wise. A .20c spring can wake that motor up.