I have the distributor coupling/housing (the two piece part between the distributor and the engine front cover) apart on a SM and am wondering how to put it back together properly. It has a slotted hole and and need to know how to set it back up. I didn't notice the slotted hole till all the dirt and grime was removed.
- Thread starter MRGJNV
- Start date
Tom Fleming
Well-known Member
can you post a picture showing what you are referring to?
Owen Aaland
Well-known Member
The correct way is to align the timing marks on the front gear with the camshaft gear but that is pretty hard to do without having the front cover removed from the engine. As long as you are not using a magneto the marks do not have to be aligned correctly since the distributor gear can compensate for any difference.
For a distributor just assemble the gear and housing to the front cover. Turn the engine until the number one cylinder is at Top Dead Center on the compression stroke. Mark the distributor housing so you can see where the number one plug wire tower is located. Remove the distributor cap and turn the rotor until it points to the mark that you made and install the distributor onto the adapter housing on the engine. Rotate the distributor clockwise until the the mark is below where the rotor is pointing. While watching the points, slowly turn the distributor CCW, bringing your mark back up, until the breaker points just start to open. That should get you close enough for the engine to start. You can fine tune the timing after you get the engine running.
For a distributor just assemble the gear and housing to the front cover. Turn the engine until the number one cylinder is at Top Dead Center on the compression stroke. Mark the distributor housing so you can see where the number one plug wire tower is located. Remove the distributor cap and turn the rotor until it points to the mark that you made and install the distributor onto the adapter housing on the engine. Rotate the distributor clockwise until the the mark is below where the rotor is pointing. While watching the points, slowly turn the distributor CCW, bringing your mark back up, until the breaker points just start to open. That should get you close enough for the engine to start. You can fine tune the timing after you get the engine running.
The slotted hole is used when you have a magneto which you do not have to adjust the fine timing. On your battery ignition unit you set fine timing by rotating the dist itself, basic timing is done with gear between dist reduction drive and that housing with slotted hole, just pull that shaft out and mesh it where you need it. If you pulled the whole works off and didn't note timing you will have to of course start from scratch. You most likely know this but anyway, pull number one spark plug, turn engine until you feel compression with finger in hole. Continue to first mark on pulley of the two marks close together. Rotate rotor to point to number one wire on cap in normal direction of rotation, and adjust to where points are just starting to open.
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