Farmall H Distributor

Is there a service manual that covers maintenance on this? I have it mostly apart and see that the middle section is full of grease I think. What should I be looking for as far as worn parts?

More pics here

Thank for any help

Randy

Grease is a good sign especially if it is still not crusty! Bearings should be near zero play. <.001" radially. Assuring alignment. Repakc and then lube once a year with a zerk in the plug hole on the side. JimN

Actually, there was a manual for it, but I'm not sure where you'd find one. I think my uncle has the only one I've seen. He found it in the old garage and I suspect it came with the distributor when Grandpa switched his H over from a mag. I'm sure a lot or most of it was devoted to the mechanics of the switch over, but would bet a dime it also included routine maintenace information, but likely not specs and clearances.

If it's anything like the distributor on a SuperC, there is provision for a zerk to grease it. The major wear point that could cause problems is in the shaft wearing to where it would wobble in its bushings, which leads to an iregular point gap.

Randy - Your IHC distributor is pretty straightforward. Pay attention (and take a few photos) when you disassemble then reassembly will be a snap. Be sure note the timing marks on the gears as you pull it apart!

As JimN mentions below the critical wear item is the distributor shaft bushing. More than a couple thousands runout here will make it impossible to properly set the breaker gap and get consistent timing.

Check also the centrifugal advance mechanism for busted springs, freedom of movement of the weights, etc.

When refilling the gear chamber go easy on the grease. It’s not hard to overfill if you screw a zerk fitting into the pipe-plugged lube port then use a grease gun. You don’t want excess grease finding its way into the distributor body!

Use new wearing parts - points, condenser, rotor, and cap. Also judging from the swelling on the coil can in your photo, it’s time for a new coil.

Good luck!

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Nice photo set of your rebuild BTW!

Randy, don't know which operators manual if any you have. Most after 1949 tells the lubrication, mantinance and how to time distributor. Looks like your doing a top notch job on engine so you probably want to go through distributor and check it out. The T shaped gear usualy wears faster than the one on end of distributor itself, but check both. Check that drive gear and pin are tight on distributor shaft, you may have to remove them if completly taking distributor apart though. Theres a oring seal in housing above gear but if other things check out okay I don't think its critical enough to pull shaft to change. Down below point plate you should check weight guard, weights for worn holes and the pins weight swing on for wear or being loose in distributor shaft, also advance springs. Weight guard is often found mangeled by to long of screw installed in condenser mount. Check advance limit hole for wear. Check point cam for to much play between it and distributor shaft, also that it has the oil wick in it for lubrication. Check main distributor shaft for play and the bushing for T shaped drive gear. Bushing for distributor shaft in housing is poris so the grease when lubing doesn't go dirrect on shaft. Also you can't overgrease that because extra grease will come out hole on opposite side. Lightly lube moving parts of advance unit and if distributor shaft is removed the thrust washer under big end of shaft. On a 50 H if original the distributor drive housing that is between engine and unit has a oil seal in the housing. Drive gear and shaft is removed from housing to replace. I mostly just mentioned the stuff inside and left some stuff out. Good luck

Take the distributor apart and put in new points, condenser, cap, dust cap and rotor. Install a new drive shaft and bushing if needed. Clean all parts. Since your distributor has the old IH coil, leave it if it still works. There is a small plug that can be removed and a grease zerk used to lubericate the drive shaft.

Here ya go Randy

http://www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Blue%20Ribbon%20Service%20Manuals/GSS-1012%20Electrical%20Equipment/index.html

Thanks everyone!! That manual is perfect Howard.

Randy