Is my distributor on upside down?

Absent Minded Farmer · Mar 25, 2012

I was replacing the plug wires on my new H & noticed the wires were out of order on the cap or so I thought. I double checked the book & re-arranged the wires to what the book says & the tractor would not start. Just one very healthy backfire after about 5 seconds of cranking. I put the wires back the way they were & it made no difference & no backfire. What did I break this time? I'm also hoping someone could let me know why my primary terminal is 180° from where it should be. The manual & all of the pictures I looked at show the terminal to be at about 3 o'clock, when looking at the front of the cap.

Hope you guys had a great Holiday & enjoyed the short winter.

Thanks,
Mike

gene bender · Mar 25, 2012

It sure is upside down or at least of some from where they usually are you can remove it and then get it right by redoing all the plug wires and turning the rotor so it lines up with the cap going to the right plug no big deal as long as you know how it is placed now.

Absent Minded Farmer · Mar 25, 2012

Will I need to redo my timing after I turn the rotor? Do I turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise, or does it not matter? Also, is there a reason one would have the distributor set that way or is it just preferance.

Mike

rustred · Mar 25, 2012

yes the point terminal should be at 3 oclock. i always notice that on any tractor i walk by. just pull the dist and install it correctly. # 1 wire is at 2 oclock and is even marked on cap.

rustred · Mar 25, 2012

#1 yes you need to retime it.
#2 opposite of regular rotation is to advance.
#3 just beginners that dont know the correct spot.

wisbaker · Mar 25, 2012

Someone put the distributor in "wrong" and moved wires to make it work. Older engines are simple and it happens more than you think. It's been 35 years sine I had a distributor out of a H or a M. Distributors usually either have a gear on the end and you can put them in as many different ways as the gear has teeth, other have a tang on the end they go in right or 180* off. I'm almost thinking the H has a tang drive, if it's off but not 180* off it means the gears in the front are not timed "right" How to fix- rotate the engine until the timing marks ling up at TDC compression figure out were the distributor is pointing- make that #1 then place your wire in firing order by rotation.

Absent Minded Farmer · Mar 25, 2012

Thanks guys, for the replies. I ran out of daylight & will have a go at it in the AM. Glad to hear it's something simple.

Mike

Is my distributor on upside down?

Absent Minded Farmer

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gene bender

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Absent Minded Farmer

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rustred

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rustred

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wisbaker

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Absent Minded Farmer

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