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#1035888 06/16/2014 3:36 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 144
L
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 144
ran a search but didn't find what my issue is so bear with me please. I cannot get the little screw thing on the side of the 235 distributor to tighten. I notice when I take distrib cap off and look inside the whole screw is turning. is there something wrong or how do I resolve? There is enough slack the wire coming from ballast resistor to distributor isn't tightened down good and the end of the points set won't stay in place. Your thoughts, THANK YOU, lefty

Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,262
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,262

lefty,

Does the little screw thing look like the part in this illustration? If it is, how are you tightening the round "nut" (screw thing?) that has the slot in it?

Joined: Apr 2013
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Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Posts: 144
yes, tclederman, that is what it looks like. No matter what I try (small pliers, 2 flatheads, 1 flathead), the screw part that runs into the distributor is turning on the inside. I have to wonder if there is some clip or something missing on the inside. Without being able to tighten it up some, the wire from ballast isn't tight and the ignition points end is walking out from where it's supposed to fit?

Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,029
F
Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
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Posts: 12,029
that "screw part" should have a keeper arrangement inside, like a shoulder on the head or a square plate with a tab, so yes you may be missing a part - that terminal commonly comes loose after 50 years of folks fiddling with it

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me
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Wrench Fetcher
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Ok, that is what is wrong then, there isn't any sort of keeper inside the distributor, I'll have to see what I can figure out....thanks for the time to read and respond. it was hard for me to figure out because I just cannot see good and glasses only work well when it's not 90+ and humid (like here), they just turn into a sloppy mess and I couldn't see exactly what was wrong.... lefty

Joined: Jan 2010
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Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Here is a possible replacement?

...link...

Joined: Jan 2001
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P
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Posts: 5,320
A 1959 distributor uses a slightly different setup.
Here is a link to pictures I took of the stock setup.
It is very common for the tit to break off the inner insulator allowing the bolt to spin freely when tightening or loosening the outer nuts.


See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet!
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Joined: Apr 2013
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Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 144
Thank you all, I have figured out what must be wrong. The picture Pre 68 Dave shared shows a stop in the bakelite (guess it's bakelite?) block for the little screw to be stopped with, mine has no such stop. I guess it is broken off, worn off, whatever, because there isn't any "stop". Another Scooby Doo mystery solved! Thanks again, lefty.


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