Distributor Service & Parts Manual

Hi all - In my quest to clean every single part of my 48, I embarked upon the distributor. I checked the blue ribbon service manual in my shop - there wasn't anything in it specific to maintenance of the distributor. Figuring I'd finish it, get the two halves in the e-tank, wash-up and download a lovely service manual for the distributor.....

Trouble is, I don't see one on the site. I'm probably missing it - Please.

Thanks, Ken

Last edited by PVF1799 on Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

As far as I know, the e-tank will remove or destroy any original rustproofing material on parts placed in the tank. I have never seen a distributor that I thought needed the e-tank treatment. I have seen some immersed briefly in carburetor cleaner by a former NASCAR mechanic, now deceased for several years. He rinsed the distributor carefully thereafter. Some parts may need the e-tank while others might be damaged by the process. Choose wisely which to put in the tank.

As far as I know, the e-tank will remove or destroy any original rustproofing material on parts placed in the tank. I have never seen a distributor that I thought needed the e-tank treatment. I have seen some immersed briefly in carburetor cleaner by a former NASCAR mechanic, now deceased for several years. He rinsed the distributor carefully thereafter. Some parts may need the e-tank while others might be damaged by the process. Choose wisely which to put in the tank.

Thanks for that sound advice. The only parts that are in the e-tank are are the castings, the distributor has been fully disassembled. I'll post later if this was a real mistake.

Ken:

FOS-20 Chapter 6-Ignition Circuits. Generic IH Service Manual Chapter.

I found this parts list breakdown at http://www.tuttlemotor.com/pages/OemParts?aribrand=CUC#/Cub_Cadet/Farmall_Cub_Tractor_(S%2f%2fN_501_to_185%2c000)/Distributor_-_IH/012080-A/0120800075

I'm really curious why there are two obvious service points (large set screws) on the distributor assembly. One is located where the you'd likely inject grease onto the centrifugal spark advance and the other is in the rear casting at the drive gear. At the bottom front surface of the rear housing (closest to the governor), there are two machine screws that hold a cover and gasket in place. Once removed this seems to allow for cleaning old grease out of the bottom of the housing. The hole is large enough to easily insert a tongue depressor into the cavity.

With the parts list above, I'm confident I can get this device back together. It sure would be nice to know exactly how it is supposed to be serviced. There must be a publication on the IH Distributor Service.

tach drive would go where the cover is, they are for grease fittings. As far as servicing , it was not meant to completely disassemble it. look at the preventive maintenance manual

I'm really curious why there are two obvious service points (large set screws) on the distributor assembly. One is located where the you'd likely inject grease onto the centrifugal spark advance and the other is in the rear casting at the drive gear.

The two plugs (pipe plugs, using a NPT) are a way to prevent "over-lubrication" of the distributor. The thought was that if they had just put in grease fittings at these two locations the average owner would over-grease the distributor by pumping in grease everytime they lubed all the other grease fittings. On page 33 of the Cub owners manual (1-5-1955), it tells you to remove the plugs and install a grease fitting to lubricate the distributor every 6 months or 500 hours (whichever comes first). You are supposed to apply the grease until a "small quantity" comes out the relief hole on the opposite side of the plug (180 degrees around the base). By having to unscrew the plug and install a grease fitting you would have to think twice about pumping in too much grease.

Be sure that the flyweights inside the distributor housing are moving freely and are properly lubed. I have used GM Superlube for applications like this and have had excellent results. A lot of different companys make a spray lubricant that is similar to this, sprays on wet then drys to a film of lubricant. I started using the GM Superlube on a Ford Model B distributor with the cetrifigual flyweights years ago, because I already had a can of it, no complaints after a decade.

I'm really curious why there are two obvious service points (large set screws) on the distributor assembly. One is located where the you'd likely inject grease onto the centrifugal spark advance and the other is in the rear casting at the drive gear.

The two plugs (pipe plugs, using a NPT) are a way to prevent "over-lubrication" of the distributor. The thought was that if they had just put in grease fittings at these two locations the average owner would over-grease the distributor by pumping in grease everytime they lubed all the other grease fittings. On page 33 of the Cub owners manual (1-5-1955), it tells you to remove the plugs and install a grease fitting to lubricate the distributor every 6 months or 500 hours (whichever comes first). You are supposed to apply the grease until a "small quantity" comes out the relief hole on the opposite side of the plug (180 degrees around the base). By having to unscrew the plug and install a grease fitting you would have to think twice about pumping in too much grease.

Be sure that the flyweights inside the distributor housing are moving freely and are properly lubed. I have used GM Superlube for applications like this and have had excellent results. A lot of different companys make a spray lubricant that is similar to this, sprays on wet then drys to a film of lubricant. I started using the GM Superlube on a Ford Model B distributor with the cetrifigual flyweights years ago, because I already had a can of it, no complaints after a decade.

Awesome detailed reply. The older owners manual that I had printed had the same photo (illus. 25), that is shown in illus. 33B on the 1-5-55 manual. The issue is - there was NO text for pix 25 in the older manual - hence my confusion. I am glad I disassembled the entire unit as the grease in the flyweights section of the distributor was very sparse and very sticky.

Also, want to note that there was SO LITTLE grease in the distributor (all in the bottom), there is no way anything would have come out the vent hole any time soon. No I know when I put this thing back together it'll be properly, cleaned, lubed and ready to go.

Glad I ventured into the unknown.

Ken

Glad I ventured into the unknown.
Ken

And that's exactly how one learns the ins and outs of Cub maintenance and rebuilding