1950 fergy dist

Hello Folks A friend has about 1950 Ferguson the Dist shaft
at the rotor button flops around is there a top bushing
there in the top housing pic shows one at bottom & I don't know
if it has a gear or a blade drive I am thinking a gear .
he is 50 miles from me some day I will go take it out.
Thank you for any reply & a repair idea Ken

The flip/flop may be simply the mechanical spark advance.And that is normal for them.

Ok Thank you for the quick reply will pass on the reply

Ken

Make and Model of Tractor as well as Engine?

I Operate a Ferguson with the STANDARD 4 cylinder ENGINE....TEA-20.

I had to work the distributor:

Upper BRG. failure:

Bob...Owner various colored Tractors:

Are you saying the rotor is loose on the shaft?

If so, it may be broken or the wrong rotor. Try a new rotor, see if it will fit better.

Or are you saying the shaft turns a few degrees, then springs back when released?

If so, that is normal. That is the centrifugal advance. If it springs back, that's what it's supposed to do. If it stays, or is slow to return, it needs to come apart and be lubed and the springs and weights checked. The distributor will need to come out and be disassembled.

Or, are you saying the entire shaft has side play? That is very common on those. It is critical that it have minimal side play on the points cam. If there is side play, the points will not stay set. Usually the best fix is to install a rebuilt distributor.

BUT! If you do remove the distributor, be sure to mark the direction the rotor is pointing, and the position of the housing. It is gear drive, and pulling the distributor without noting the position will get the ignition out of time.

CAUTION!!! There are 2 different drive gears used on those distributors. Be absolutely sure, if you change the distributor that you go back with the same tooth count on the gear! Put the wrong one in, and the camshaft gear will be destroyed!

Lack of power.......Lack of acceleration... Rotor drive loose.....

One of the..... "previous owner syndromes that I have encountered".

Bob...Owner operator several different colored Tractors.....

Hi John D thank you for the reply On The timing advance pic how
is that mounted to the shaft is one part pined ? Also on # 15 on the
dist pic is that a bushing that goes in the housing & the gear on the end of the shaft or is it a blade # 13 I know it sitting on the bench would be better .
Thank you all for the reply s ken