H distributor

Harryaroo

Member
I have a narrow front end 1947 H I have used to mow for many years. The shaft on the distributor has a little bit of a wobble which I think makes the tractor burn through points often. I've just always tinkered with it but it has gotten worse so I got another distributor that has no wobble and I am getting ready to switch them. Haven't done this before... tips?
 
What I would do is note the 1-3-4-2 orientation of the plug wires on the distributor cap. Its possible you don't need to disconnect the wires, but I would still mark at least #1 cyl (closest to radiator)

Then take off the cap and note the orientation of the rotor. Ideally you could use the fan blade or bump the starter until its in a "nice" position to remember like 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 or 12:00.

Next you'll have to scribe, scratch or sharpie mark between the distributor base and the drive housing that stays on the tractor.

Now you can remove the distributor.

The trick is to duplicate the rotational orientation of the mark you made on the new distributor base, as exactly as you can. Use the features in the casting.

Then its a matter of holding the rotor in alignment you noted above until the gears mesh, and then rotate the base until the marks match. Install the cap and you should be able to start the engine. It may need further timing tweaks if you feel like you lost power.

While you have the luxury of having the new distributor base off the tractor, I would make sure the lubrication port (screwdriver slotted pipe plug) is free to move. Then, once on the tractor I would add some lube. I like to use a little STP motor treatment (the thick golden honey stuff) because I feel like it stays on the gears a long time due to its viscosity and is fully compatible with the engine oil system.
 
Wobble should not shorten the life of points, that is either high voltage, contamination or bad condenser.
 
#1 get the engine at TDC on the compression stroke.
#2 pull the distributor cap making sure not to pull any of the plug wires.
#3 note where the rotor is pointing and if you can mark it as to where it is pointing.
Pull the distributor out and watch the action of the rotor and note where the rotor points then. Line up the rotor in the same place on the new distributor and slide it into the engine and make sure it turns to the same spot as it di on the old distributor.

By the way is this a 6 or 12 volt tractor?? If 12 volt then your problem could be as simple as needing a ballast resister due to having a 6 volt coil so the points are taking more current then the yshould
 
OK-- Maybe i'm jumping the gun and should work on the current distributor. It was switched to 12v about six years ago.
 

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