Distributor shaft lubrication?

ArisL · Post by **ArisL** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:09 pm

Just pulled out the distributor for a paint job and found the shaft quite difficult to turn by hand. It’s not sized up, but certainly has a problem. The distributor was installed years ago and the Jeep is a driver. How is the shaft lubricated? I don’t see any grease fitting on it, unless someone forgot to put one on. Is it lubricated by oil fumes coming up from the sump? If so maybe I have something plugged-up, or simply the bushings never got run-in properly?

ArisL · Post by **ArisL** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:35 pm

More...
I disassembled the distributor and found some wear on the shaft where the two bearings connect. It was certainly not well lubricated for ages and had accumulated oil muck making it hard to turn. I do have some wear there, but the horizontal play on the lobe is minimal and anyway I use the Pertonix electronic ignition in place of points, so I believe it is not a problem.

My question remains though: Is the shaft lubricated only by adding oil drops on the felts, the one on top of the shaft and the other that is on the under side, tapped with a flat screw? How can this be done on the under side felt, which is sloped downwards? The only way to put oil there would be to take the distributor off the engine! Or maybe I got something not figured out right.....
I wonder if I should take the lower felt out and install a grease nipple in place of the flat screw, so that the shaft can be effectively greased. Has anyone tried that?

Anyway, I would appreciate if someone can confirm that my distributor is the correct one for the M38. The numbers on it are: 335-4706 I, C-7358569, IAU-4026-AUT, 3J 9190 and the centrifugal plate has IAU1002L
Thanks!

Cuz · Post by **Cuz** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:54 pm

The bushings/bearings are to be pre-oiled on assembly. The lower bushing gets some splash oil. The upper bushing can get oil from the uphill wick.

7358569, IAU-4026-AUT, 3J 9190

The ORD PN is correct. The Manufacturer's PN is IAU-4006-AUT and the 3J represents March 1954.

ArisL · Post by **ArisL** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:36 am

Thanks Wes, How about fitting a grease nipple in place of the lower uphill wick?

Cuz · Post by **Cuz** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:25 pm

A zerk would work as long as you use oil to service it. There is a bleeder adapter that can pass fluid through the zerk.

ArisL · Post by **ArisL** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:23 am

Thanks Wes, One more thing please I need to replace the SPRINGS of the centrifugal WEIGHTS on the distributor plate. Anyone knows of a source for them?

Cuz · Post by **Cuz** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:50 am

Try the Auto-Lite / Prestolite part numbers.

Spring IGB284
Spring set IGE24S (these are the same spring sets used in the 1952 to 54 Willys 6-85, (A),(B) series six cylinder distributors as well as 49-55 Brockway Trucks, 40-51 Diamond T trucks, and 47-48 Hug trucks.

Cuz · Post by **Cuz** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:28 pm

Cuz wrote: ↑
Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:54 pm
The bushings/bearings are to be pre-oiled on assembly. The lower bushing gets some splash oil. The upper bushing can get oil from the uphill wick.

7358569, IAU-4026-AUT, 3J 9190
The ORD PN is correct. The Manufacturer's PN is IAU-4006-AUT and the 3J represents March 1954.

Actually this IAU-4006-AUT distributor was first used on the M38A1 and later approved as a replacement for the earlier M38 distributors. It has a slightly different governor advance curve.

Cuz · Post by **Cuz** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:32 pm

Cuz wrote: ↑
Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:50 am
Try the Auto-Lite / Prestolite part numbers.

Spring IGB284
Spring set IGE24S (these are the same spring sets used in the 1952 to 54 Willys 6-85, (A),(B) series six cylinder distributors as well as 49-55 Brockway Trucks, 40-51 Diamond T trucks, and 47-48 Hug trucks.

Correction: This

Spring set IGE24S

Should have read "Spring set IGB284S.

G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums

Distributor shaft lubrication?

Distributor shaft lubrication?

Re:

Re:

Who is online