The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Runs really ruff...distributor shakes...Help!

My 235 runs really ruff. I don't like the sound. It's hard to keep it running. The distributor is shaking constantly. If I hold the distributor from shaking & turn it a bit...it runs a little better, but still not good enough to drive...

What should I check???

G'day mate,

Was it running ok before and if so what have you done since then. You said if you hold the distributor and turn it a bit that it runs a bit better. If you are able to turn the distributor with the engine running ( over the normal movement for the vacuum advance )the lock bolt on the back of the distributor may be loose. You should start by setting the ignition timing and see if that makes a difference and then work from there. Do you have a workshop manual?

Cheers

Bob

Bob:

The distributor is secure. Timing hasn't changed since it was running good. The movement I refer to is the small vacuum advance amount. The only thing I've done is file the points (while in the distributor) & change the spark plugs. All this was after the ruff, chugging idle started.

I think I'll pull all my plugs & the valve cover & hand turn the motor to see if I have a stuck valve.

Check your Cap and Rotor and also Check your Wires. My guess is that one of these is bad or all of them.

or if you had removed the wires one now may be crossed wire,,,,I have never done that but some have,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Fred


Just drive em....................

I just did what Joker said. :o Regapped my plugs for the pertronix and crossed the #2 & #4 wires. They are about the same length. I thought it would be obvious when putting the wires back on. I was wrong. Hope it's as simple as that.

Here is the firing order if you need it

1 5 3 6 2 4

15 Too Young
36 Too Old (don't tell my wife I said that)
24 Just Right

Good luck

Check the condition of the vacuum line between the distributor and the carb. Mine ran rough and no matter what I did it would not smooth out until I found a crack in the flare of the vacuum line.

Has it been sitting long between when it ran ok and now? Check everything that the guys have mentioned plus maybe the condensor. If its been sitting a long time could it be bad fuel?

Could be loose motor mounts...

If all you did was to clean up the points with the distributer in place then I would guess the gap is not set right on the points or possibly they are bent which would make the gap wrong too. I would first check the gap and if that doesn't do it then replace points, condenser and maybe the cap. suppose the wires could have gotten pulled loose or broken inside, especially if they are the radio suppressent kind. You can often tell if a plug isn't working if you get it running and pull one wire at at time, replace it and try another. If you pull one and not much is noticabe that's the culprit.

Hey everyone:

I want to thank everyone for your replies...
I've found a stuck valve...never had one before...& now I'm trying to figure out how to fix it. This board is great!!!
Thanks again!!!

Carl