Auto Lite distributer help

Can anyone tell me where I can get the
dust shield for an Auto Lite distributer?
Happens to be on a Massey Harris 44-6
(Continental F226), but looking through
the agcopartsbooks.com, it appears that
the shield was used on many Auto Lite
distributer. The real problem I am having
is I can't get the rotor aligned with the
cap to time the darn thing. Rotor always
ends up in the center of two contacts, so
it would be extremely advanced or
retarded. Distributer is driven off oil
pump gear and has not been touched, so I
don't see what could be the issue. At a
loss here.

Is the cap in the alignmemt tab correctly? Also what is the ID number on your distributor? I have an Auto-Lite distributor for a 6cyl, I will have to check the numbers on it. No cap, but complete and has dust sheild if you're interested

(quoted from post at 20:31:39 11/28/22) Can anyone tell me where I can get the
dust shield for an Auto Lite distributer?
Happens to be on a Massey Harris 44-6
(Continental F226), but looking through
the agcopartsbooks.com, it appears that
the shield was used on many Auto Lite
distributer. The real problem I am having
is I can't get the rotor aligned with the
cap to time the darn thing. Rotor always
ends up in the center of two contacts, so
it would be extremely advanced or
retarded. Distributer is driven off oil
pump gear and has not been touched, so I
don't see what could be the issue. At a
loss here.

Click to expand...

Spark occurs at the instant the breaker points open, rotor position has NOTHING to do with spark timing.

You can use a test light to determine the exact timing of the points opening.

In theory, the rotor is close to the appropriate high tension terminal when spark occurs.

But rotor shouldn't be able to move that much, and installing a dust cap isn't going to fix that.

You must have the wrong rotor or be missing a clip that keeps it centered and snug.



This post was edited by wore out on 11/28/2022 at 09:05 pm.

Tab is aligned correctly to the dist. The Auto Lite number is IAD 60021B. Not sure if I was told a line or not, but spoke with a person that rebuilds dist., and he says the shield fits to dist, and cap fits to shield. Claims it won't run without it. At any rate, number 1 cylinder is on compression, timing marks on flywheel are DC. With cap on, cannot get a spark to number one by rotating distributer. If I remove the wire (-) from the coil, rotate the dist until the points are at just opening, then carefully set the cap in place with rotor aligned with #1 terminal, touch ground to coil I have spark to #1 plug. Problem is, at the position of the dist it is either severly advanced or retarded. It may very well be the wrong cap and rotor,but it appears to correct in comparing to the old, but, will admit there is a possibility that ones wrong as well.

Brillman for the dust shiels or most any good auto parts store can get you one. The rotor position could be out of place because you're getting the rotation wrong. When I rebuilt a Buda I static timed it before I put it back on the tractor. Wouldn't start, only sputter a bit. Then I checked the rotation, it was opening on the wrong side of the cam.

I confirmed the rotation as one of the first things I did. Needed that so I could get the wires right for firing order.

Thanks for the Brillman info. They do have the correct duct cap. However, I just located a completely rebuilt replacement distributer complete from the cap to the drive, so I am going to try this and hope for the best.

The dust cover missing won't change the rotor position or the timing.

It can cause the cap to not fit and center, causing the rotor to hit the cap terminals and shear the drive tang inside the rotor. Once that is out of position it is no longer aligned with a terminal when the points open, firing the coil.

Also aftermarket caps and rotors are known to be not quite right, either manufactured wrong or mis boxed.

Look at the rotor carefully, compare it with an old one, check the position and fit on the shaft. Same with the cap.

After seeing on of the dust caps, I agree that it will not affect the cap placement. I was misinformed on that one. I am hoping that the rebuilt one coming will provide the solution to my issue. Hoping that the cap that we have is not made to position itself correctly. The real issue is that; when number one cylinder is at TDC on the compression stroke, flywheel marks and pointer confirm. The rotor is then in number one spark position, correct? At this point I then rotated the distributer until the points made contact and hence the spark setting. Tightened the distributor to prevent rotation. Placed the cap on the distributer and the high-tension terminals are either to the left or right of the rotor, so as not to complete the circuit. In fact, the rotor is in the center of two terminals. Both the new and the old cap are the same. So, like i say, hoping the cap's we have are wrong, but if not, not sure where to look. Distributer is driven by the oil pump gear off of the cam. Distibutor, drive is slot and pin both top and bottom, so that's only 180. I guess I would have to look at the oil pump drive gear to see how many teeth are on it, and maybe reposition it, as I thought somewhere I read it could be off 40 degrees when installed, but not sure, and it's never been apart so I don't really see how that could be the issue.

How is the distributor driven? Some engines the dist. shaft has a gear on the bottom to engage the camshaft and drive the oil pump and some have have a tang to engage the oil pump shaft. Either way the gear has to be on the right tooth.

Sorry, didn't read all the way to the end. You may have to pull the pump. I've done Budas and Olivers. Both need the slot to be parallel with the crankshaft and the slot is slightly off center toward the engine. Just working on the Ollie last month and found it's 180 off. Just a matter relocating the #1 wire.

When static timing like you are trying to do, you rotate the housing opposite the rotor rotation until the points OPEN, not close.

The spark occurs when the points open, not close!

You are correct, I did not word that correct, and didn't catch it before posting.