Maybe distributor problem
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Maybe distributor problem
I have a 460 in an F250. Engine is basically stock, jacobs ignition, headers, 4 barrel carb and intake, mallory distributor.
My problem, run the truck for a few miles, runs perfect, then kinda sputters a little and dies, engine wont barely turn over, kind of like the battery is dead. I get out, move the distributor a little the truck cranks over easy, starts right up goes a few miles, kinda sputters and dies, get out move the distributor a little, truck starts right up and go again.
I dont have a clue what could be causing this, it was suggested to me that the pin on the gear of the distributor is bending causing the gear to move and putting it out of time. I pulled the distributor and everything to me still looks new.
Suggestions as to what the problem is.
hogg@bevcomm.net
My problem, run the truck for a few miles, runs perfect, then kinda sputters a little and dies, engine wont barely turn over, kind of like the battery is dead. I get out, move the distributor a little the truck cranks over easy, starts right up goes a few miles, kinda sputters and dies, get out move the distributor a little, truck starts right up and go again.
I dont have a clue what could be causing this, it was suggested to me that the pin on the gear of the distributor is bending causing the gear to move and putting it out of time. I pulled the distributor and everything to me still looks new.
Suggestions as to what the problem is.
hogg@bevcomm.net
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Joined: Dec 1997
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From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Are you sure the distributor hold down clamp is tightened enough. Is the hold down clamp staying tight? Index mark the distributor to see if it moves. The bolt might be striped or the clamp is bent.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
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Sounds like it is skipping timing (DAAAAA).
The sluggish cranking can be from the engine fireing against the compression stroke.
Start with what GMC posted. If your lucky.....
If not...
Problem is its hard to tell what is causing the skipping timing. Kind of doubt the distributer. You can get all kinds of advance problems but the distributer is simply a shaft with a key on one end that fits into the drive inside the engine and a rotor on the other end. I think the key is held to the shaft with a sheer pin.
Grab the rotor with one hand to prevent it from turning. Then turn the key at the other end with a wrench. If you can turn it then you found the problem. If it doesn't turn then there is something going on inside the engine. I'm trying to dig out of the cobwebs ???? find out what drives the distributer on the other end and go from there.
Good luck, this don't sound good.
The sluggish cranking can be from the engine fireing against the compression stroke.
Start with what GMC posted. If your lucky.....
If not...
Problem is its hard to tell what is causing the skipping timing. Kind of doubt the distributer. You can get all kinds of advance problems but the distributer is simply a shaft with a key on one end that fits into the drive inside the engine and a rotor on the other end. I think the key is held to the shaft with a sheer pin.
Grab the rotor with one hand to prevent it from turning. Then turn the key at the other end with a wrench. If you can turn it then you found the problem. If it doesn't turn then there is something going on inside the engine. I'm trying to dig out of the cobwebs ???? find out what drives the distributer on the other end and go from there.
Good luck, this don't sound good.
Last edited by WLF; Jul 29, 2002 at 11:24 PM.
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From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
WLF,
I dug out my Auto Mechanics Fundamentals before I posted.
I couldn't remember what the Hold Down Clamp was oficially called.
ronn,
When you turn the distributor, do you turn the body like when you adjust timing? Or do you turn the shaft? If you turn the body do you have to losen the hold down bolt? Exactly what do you mean when you "move the distributor a little"?
I dug out my Auto Mechanics Fundamentals before I posted.
I couldn't remember what the Hold Down Clamp was oficially called. ronn,
When you turn the distributor, do you turn the body like when you adjust timing? Or do you turn the shaft? If you turn the body do you have to losen the hold down bolt? Exactly what do you mean when you "move the distributor a little"?
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From: Keyser, WV
I don't think your distributor has points but has an arangement inside called a "magnetic pickup" make sure these parts at the bottom of the inside of the dist . assembly are not vibrating causing a change in timing. This pickup takes the place of the old style points and anytime there is a change in points or pickup position timing changes
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distributor
the distributor is a mallory magnetic breakerless with vacuum advance.
when I say i move the distributor i mean I loosen the hold down and twist the distibutor about 1/8 to 1/4 inch and then tighten down the hold down again.
i pulled the distribuor and nothing twists against itself it was suggested that the timing chain gear set is just plain wore out.
its strange because when the timing is correct the truck runs perfect and powerful just like it is supposed to do.
when I say i move the distributor i mean I loosen the hold down and twist the distibutor about 1/8 to 1/4 inch and then tighten down the hold down again.
i pulled the distribuor and nothing twists against itself it was suggested that the timing chain gear set is just plain wore out.
its strange because when the timing is correct the truck runs perfect and powerful just like it is supposed to do.
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I don't think it is the timeing chain. When they jump all kinds of things get screwed up like the valves open at the wrong time, pistons slap valves, shall I go on... There is a drive inside the block the runs the distributer. I think it works off a worm gear on the crank or cam. The inside end of the distributer fits in to it. Find a Chilten's and see how to access this drive and take it out, inspect it, replace it needed.
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From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
ronn,
How many times have you moved the distributor? If you move it ¼ inch at a time and you do it every few miles by the time you have driven 1000 miles you will have rotated the distrbutor one complete revolution. Are you sure the clamp is holding properly? If it is, check the connectors/wires going into the distributor for chaffing corrosion etc.. It may well be that by you moving the distributor jiggles them back into position to complete the circuit.
JMC
How many times have you moved the distributor? If you move it ¼ inch at a time and you do it every few miles by the time you have driven 1000 miles you will have rotated the distrbutor one complete revolution. Are you sure the clamp is holding properly? If it is, check the connectors/wires going into the distributor for chaffing corrosion etc.. It may well be that by you moving the distributor jiggles them back into position to complete the circuit.
JMC