Bad distributor?
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
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Bad distributor?
Howdy Volks,
I recently noticed kind of a snap/crackle/pop sound at idle coming from the distributor area at idle. I popped the cap off and discovered that the distributor shaft has both rotational and vertical free play. How much free play is acceptable? It seems to be running fine...but this noise ain't kosher. I have 109k miles on what I think is the original distributor. Or, is this a sign of trouble in my engine's netheregions?
I recently noticed kind of a snap/crackle/pop sound at idle coming from the distributor area at idle. I popped the cap off and discovered that the distributor shaft has both rotational and vertical free play. How much free play is acceptable? It seems to be running fine...but this noise ain't kosher. I have 109k miles on what I think is the original distributor. Or, is this a sign of trouble in my engine's netheregions?
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
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Re: Bad distributor?
I don't think up and down play is all that critical, but side play is. I remember I had to replace mine in my '80 Jetta. Don't remember any noise, just really bad idle. But the side play should be snug.
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
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Re: Bad distributor?
Hmmm.....I did not check side-to-side play, just rotational and up/down. I will have another look when I get home tonight. I just don't know when this noise started. You can't hear it with the engine lid down, and it seems to be running fine.
Thanks
Thanks
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- yondermtn
- Old School!
- Location: IL
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
My distributor was very loose and the two "teeth" weren't catching and turning with the engine. I took it out and to me it seemed like too much play. I put in a spare I had and that seemed to work. Here's a pic of the play I had in my old distributor.
1977 Westy 2.0FI
1990 Vanagon MV 2.1 Auto
1990 Vanagon MV 2.1 Auto
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
Check for the spring in the middle of the drive shaft down the hole with the distributor out. The vertical play is fine as long as that spring is accounted for. There are thrust washers between the distributor's drive dog and the distributor body. One of them used to be a fiber washer that often gets broken and falls out.Mr Blotto wrote:Hmmm.....I did not check side-to-side play, just rotational and up/down. I will have another look when I get home tonight. I just don't know when this noise started. You can't hear it with the engine lid down, and it seems to be running fine.
Thanks
The brass drive gear on the crankshaft can get mangled all too easily if you:
a) don't have the spring down the hole
b) rotate the engine backwards, especially when the flywheel is off
Look for any evidence of hits between the rotor and the distributor cap.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
Thanks fellas
*Gulp* - I have never removed my distributer. First time for everything I guess.....
*Gulp* - I have never removed my distributer. First time for everything I guess.....
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
Put it at TDC on #1 and take it out with the clamp still on it. Keeps your timing. Then you can pop it right back on. I pull my distributor to set my points gap. Piece of cake.
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
OK - time for a stupid question........
How does one fit a wrench or socket on that 13mm nuts that loosens the distributor hold down clamp? Do I need an offset wrench?
How does one fit a wrench or socket on that 13mm nuts that loosens the distributor hold down clamp? Do I need an offset wrench?
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
I have used a small 13mm box wrench coming in from slightly under the cold start valve. You can unplug the cold start valve plug for better access.Mr Blotto wrote:OK - time for a stupid question........
How does one fit a wrench or socket on that 13mm nuts that loosens the distributor hold down clamp? Do I need an offset wrench?
Or you can loosen the 10mm clamp bolt (score the position of the distributor against the clamp, first) and just rotate the distributor to a more advantageous position.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
Thanks Colin - i will give it a try. Here is a short video of my freeplay. (First time trying to post a vid!)
http://youtu.be/y1GVBi5NVcg
Does this seem normal?
Thanks guys!
http://youtu.be/y1GVBi5NVcg
Does this seem normal?
Thanks guys!
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
Isn't that just the mechanical advance? It is on mine. Springs with counterweights underneath. Mine does that on the Ghia. Vacuum only advance on the single port engine I just got into Bertha Bus. And yes, that seems normal.
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
Thanks Neal. Perhaps I need to get a stethoscope and pinpoint where this noise is exactly coming from before I go ripping stuff out.
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- ruckman101
- Lord God King Bwana
- Location: Up next to a volcano.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
The inside of the distributor cap is clean? Could it be arcing?
neal
neal
The slipper has no teeth.
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Bad distributor?
The cap and rotor had a little carbon deposits, but nothing that seemed abnormal. I did notice that the area below the rotor (where the points are) was a bit dirty and oily, but it seemed to be residue from oiling the wick and lubing the shaft where the points hit it?? I do not have a dust cover installed....
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles