1985 Distributor Gear Problem
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
1985 Distributor Gear Problem
I have a 1985 F250 with the 460 in it. I have recently replaced the dristributor, about 500 miles ago. Today about 50 miles away from home going 60 I was treated to a large backfire then no engine. I got the truck towed home thinking it was a timing chain. I took out the distributor and noticed the drive gear was loose and spinning on the shaft freely. Could this have been caused by a bad oil pump or a manufactur defect? Any help is appreciated.
Chad
Chad
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Crosby TX
1985 Distributor Gear Problem
I had the exact thing happen in my 351W.
I bought a remanufactured distributor and after 6,000 miles it sheared the roll pin in the distributor gear. I noticed that the distributor was hard to turn and disassembled it to see what was wrong.
The oil grooves in the shaft were plugged solid with crut so the bushing at the top of the distributor was not getting any oil. Seems they missed this little feature at the reman place.
I cleaned the groves, polished the shaft with some emery cloth and reassembled the distributor.
I could not find any parts stores that carried a hardened roll pin (they're black in color and 1/8" x 3/4"). So I used the roll pin that is in the shaft retaining collar for the gear and put in a non hardened roll pin in the collar.
This may be your problem as well.
I bought a remanufactured distributor and after 6,000 miles it sheared the roll pin in the distributor gear. I noticed that the distributor was hard to turn and disassembled it to see what was wrong.
The oil grooves in the shaft were plugged solid with crut so the bushing at the top of the distributor was not getting any oil. Seems they missed this little feature at the reman place.
I cleaned the groves, polished the shaft with some emery cloth and reassembled the distributor.
I could not find any parts stores that carried a hardened roll pin (they're black in color and 1/8" x 3/4"). So I used the roll pin that is in the shaft retaining collar for the gear and put in a non hardened roll pin in the collar.
This may be your problem as well.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Crosby TX
1985 Distributor Gear Problem
One other thing. You can check your oil pump to see if it's seazed.
Use a 5/16" 1/4" drive socket on a long extension and see if the pump turns freely.
If it does, then chuck the extension up in a drill and run it in reverse. You should be able to build oil pressure.
Use a 5/16" 1/4" drive socket on a long extension and see if the pump turns freely.
If it does, then chuck the extension up in a drill and run it in reverse. You should be able to build oil pressure.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
1985 Distributor Gear Problem
Thanks for your reply. I went ahead and took off the oil pan because I dropped the retaining collor on the oil drive shaft. To my surprise the person before me put in a high flow oil pump but left all the other stock components. So the oil pump was hitting the side of the oil pan making metal filings all over the place, I figure one of those filings made it into the pump. The pump spins good now but I think I will put in the stock pump which is about .5 inches shorter. I don't do a lot of hard driving with it so I don't think it will be a problem.
again thanks for your help.
cg
again thanks for your help.
cg
