Farmall Distributor Installation (Need Help)

Rodney in Kansas · Nov 23, 2008

I have been rebuilding the engine in my M and now I am ready to intall the distributor. I have the engine at TDC. The mark on the engine pulley is lined up with the pointer. My questions are, In what position does the distributor set? What is the position of the rotor and In what order does the spark plugs wire get installed? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

John T · Nov 23, 2008

Im NOT an IHC guy, been years since I owned them, but can still tell ya this much theory.

When No 1 piston is at TDC on its compression power stroke, the distributor should be installed such that the rotor tip is pointed to n lined up with where the No 1 cylinders internal cap terminal/pickup is or would be located (i.e. terminal whose external cap tower leads to No 1 cylinders plug wire) and a correctly gapped set of ignition points would just be breaking open or darn close ready to. That will fire the No cyliner at TDC on its compression power stroke and then in the direction the rotor turns the next cylinders (plug wires taken off cap) would be in the sequential firing order.

John T

Hugh MacKay · Nov 24, 2008

Rodney: In other words, set the rotor pointed to 2 o'clock, viewing from rear of tractor. That is assuming you have No.1 on TDC, compression and not exhaust.

mattofvinings · Nov 24, 2008

Just to clarify, there are "two" TDC positions if you look at the crankshaft only.

However, this is narrowed down to one "true" TDC by checking the valvetrain (which the cam rotates at half crank speed).

On the compression TDC both valves have been closed for the prior half a crank revolution (more or less) and on the exhaust TDC the exhaust valve will have been open for the prior half a crank revolution (more or less).

Important to pick the correct one as firing the spark on the exhaust stroke just wastes spark and won't let the engine run.

El Toro · Nov 24, 2008

If both valves are closed on No1 piston you should be at TDC on the compression stroke. Your firing order should be:
2-1
4-3 Your rotor should be aligned with the No1 plug tower when the distributor is installed. Hal

CNKS · Nov 24, 2008

#1 at TDC, mark on pulley aligned with pointer, rotor pointing to #1 distributer terminal. Install, turn distributer counterclockwise, remove coil wire from dist, hold close to nut on distributer (switch on), rotate dist clockwise until you get a spark, lock dist down, fine tune by ear after engine starts and is warm. Firing order is cast into block in plain sight, 1,3,4,2, #1 is next to radiator. dist terminals are arranged
21
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Rodney in Kansas · Nov 24, 2008

THANKS EVERYBODY!!

Farmall Distributor Installation (Need Help)

Rodney in Kansas

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John T

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Hugh MacKay

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mattofvinings

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El Toro

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CNKS

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Rodney in Kansas

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