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Distributor wobble

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:46 am
by Wes
I replaced my distributor {ignitor} with a NOS (or rebuilt?) unit I found on Ebay. It went in ok and works, but There is a noticable wobble when the motor is running. I pulled it and reinstalled it twice with no change. Has anyone experianced this, and should I be concerened?

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:27 am
by HingsingM37
Wes,
What "wobbles"? The whole distributor and shaft in the block? The cap side to side? Can you be clearer? Nothing should move.

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:19 am
by powerwagontim
If you are running a "civilian" distributor and a military oil pump you will get the wobble. The tang on the end of the military distributor is offset, whereas the civilian tang is centered. The centered tang will fit into the offsey slot in the oil pump but it will ossilate. You need to put a civilian oil pump in with a centered slot.
Tim

Re: Distributor wobble

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:23 pm
by MSeriesRebuild
Wes wrote:I replaced my distributor {ignitor} with a NOS (or rebuilt?) unit I found on Ebay. It went in ok and works, but There is a noticable wobble when the motor is running. I pulled it and reinstalled it twice with no change. Has anyone experianced this, and should I be concerened?
If the rebuilt unit you installed is a military distributor, you have a civilian oil pump if it wobbles. If you are using a civilian distributor, like someone already said, you have a military oil pump. These 2 components must be matched, either civilian or military.

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:29 am
by HingsingM37
Now see, there lies my confusion. I did not think of the mis-matched civy-mil spec parts scenario because that would cause more of an "oscillation" as opposed to a wobble :lol: Actually, I never thought you could get those to mate up because of the offset? I learned something new. Thanks Tim and Charles :)

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:32 am
by powerwagontim
You are welcome, at least its is an easy thing to fix!
Tim

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:59 am
by monkeymissile
could it be worn bushings for the distributor shaft? It was a used item correct?

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:00 am
by Wes
The distributor is military. A 24volt unit just like the origfinal. It appeared to be either NOS or rebuilt, and was clean and no slop in the shaft. As for the oil pump. I am not aware that the oil pump is not original military. The previous owner bought it from the military and I'm very sure he never got into the engine.

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:20 am
by MSeriesRebuild
Wes wrote:The distributor is military. A 24volt unit just like the origfinal. It appeared to be either NOS or rebuilt, and was clean and no slop in the shaft. As for the oil pump. I am not aware that the oil pump is not original military. The previous owner bought it from the military and I'm very sure he never got into the engine.
The shaft could be bent, if so & it's enough, wobble will result even if it is the correct oil pump. I'd almost bet the oil pump has been replaced with a civilian one at some point though.

Worn shaft bushings will not cause wobble of the housing. The shaft will flop around some, but there will be no visible outward sign.

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:39 am
by Wes
I'm not sure what to do at this point. I've never removed or replaced an oil pump in a M-37. I really don't have time to start pulling apart my engine right now. What I don't understand is why none of my other distributors did this. They all, including the one in it now, are identical. I am loosing my storage area and I have to move the vehicle 25 miles to my hunting camp. Since I installed the distributor It has been running good for short trips around town. Dare I run it out to camp?

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:01 pm
by MSeriesRebuild
Wes wrote:I'm not sure what to do at this point. I've never removed or replaced an oil pump in a M-37. I really don't have time to start pulling apart my engine right now. What I don't understand is why none of my other distributors did this. They all, including the one in it now, are identical. I am loosing my storage area and I have to move the vehicle 25 miles to my hunting camp. Since I installed the distributor It has been running good for short trips around town. Dare I run it out to camp?
I'm getting a clearer picture now I think. If the other distributor was military & not wobbling & the one you just installed does, about the only thing left to suspect is a bent distributor shaft. If you continue to run it, it will wear the bushings quickly, it will stress & break eventually. How long will that take; not too long if it's bent bad enough to wobble.