Jumping Distributor on TO-30

Relatively new to forum and not sure if posting to old msg will bump it up to top. My apologies while learning.

Last week posted following:

"Using -30 and died, acted like it was running out of gas but wasn't.

Found distributor rotor NOT turning.

Looked further and found bare distributor driveshaft, oily, under distributor sticking out of side of engine. There is about 2-in of the distributor driveshaft visible."

So here's an update with photos to follow when downloaded and then uploaded to site. Thanks to knowledgeable neighbor that had knowledge I was lacking.

Distributor clamp was bent into as 'S' shape. Wow! Made clamp flat again using vise and subtle hammering. And distributor driveshaft was--see above--visible sticking out of block.

Removed distributor from tractor. Found distributor locked up solid; would not rotate.

Used pliers to rock shaft and finally broke it loose. Had to file rivet head off in order to disassemble and remove drive gear shaft.

Removed points plate. Found one of two nuts holding spring-loaded spark advance component missing. Found nut had fallen beneath the advance device and was being dragged around the perimeter of the distributor, gouging a ring in the distributor housing itself.

Apparently nut had finally gotten itself trapped and for that reason locked up advance mechanism and therefore the driveshaft. Engine internal camshaft follower worm gear that drives distributor appears to be intact and not damaged. We'll see...

Retrieved nut, cleaned all, reassembled nut with blue LokTite onto advance mechanism, reinstalled points plate. Checked brass bushings by looking and feel and all seems tight with no slop.

Noticed of two machine-screw nuts (11/32-in) one had no locking method evident and did come off while the other nut had tiny bent ears from the plate holding it from backing off.

Greased shaft well, reinstalled gear using roll-pin to replace OEM rivet.

Waiting on points and condenser to complete reassembly then will reinstall distributor and set timing. A continuing adventure unfolds.

Hope this helps someone else with their problems. As always, insights advice ideas knowledge and experience appreciated.

While you have the distributor out you need to reach down in there and try moving the cam back and forth and see how much play there is. The cam walking back and forth may be what caused the problems with the distributor. When the cam goes forward it try"s to force the distributor upwards. Of course the distributor is clamped down so the force goes to the distributor shaft and forces it upwards which cause the weights and stuff to hit the point plate after a while, and then finally it will shove the whole distributor up out of the hole.