Runnig again....Finally

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:15 pm

Well with the help of the group I didn't junk it, but finnally got it running again. I checked how the ignitor was installed and it would only go in in one position. Then I reversed the fire order on the plug wires and it started right up. I remember the mechanic who installed is saying the ignitor was not US made and was backwards, I guess he was right, #1 is at #6. I do still have a few bugs. I still have the wierd issue of the loose ignitor cap. If I tighten the cap completely it wont run. If I back off the screws about 4 to 5 turns it will. I don't know if the rotor is binding up in the cap or if it is shorting out. I replaced the cap, rotor, points, coil and condensor and everthing is placed properly. I did notice that there are scrape marks inside the rotor cap plastic. I use this truck on old logging roads and I can't run it like this. I compared the rotor to the old one and it is very close but a little different. Is there a napa number where I can get a new one?

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:50 am

Well done Wes! Glad you didn't give up on it. I do not know of a NAPA number for your cap and rotor-some of the other forum members might. If you are runnng a civilian distributor, check to see if you have the small (1/4) inch notch cap, or the larger (3/8) notch cap, then give VPW a call. They set me up with the right cap, points, rotor and condensor once I identified which type distributor was in the M.
Gary

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:51 am

That's supposed to read "three eighths" in the previous post

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:09 am

I'm using the original type ignitor. I thought the rotor could be purchased through napa as long as I could get their number. I'm hoping the one I'm using now is just out of spec or when I bought it it was the wrong one, or some thing like that. I can't imagine what else could be causing this problem. I'm so close to soling this problem!

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:00 am

Sure sounds like something is still amiss. Is the rotor pushed all the way down on the shaft? I don't have the military distrubutor so I'm just thinking out loud-Is there a piece of gunk or something that may be adding additional height to the rotor? If it's carving up the inside of the cap it may be the wrong rotor, as there should be some gap between the rotor contact and the distrbutor contacts.
Gary

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:45 am

It sure sounds like the cap and rotor are not matched! Either the rotor is not going down far enough or the cap is going down too far. Something is definately out of specs. Did you buy the cap and rotor as a set, or did you get them individually? Are the cap and rotor US or foreign made? I ran into a similar problem with a '66 Chevy a couple of years ago. Turned out that the Chinese-manufactured distributor cap didn't fit quite right. I spent the extra bucks for the more expensive cap, and the problem went away. Now, I don't buy anything that says "Made in China" if I can help it.

peter e mark · Post by **peter e mark** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:10 pm

When I bought my rig, it ran as I handed the greenbacks to the seller, but soon after I got it to home base, it wouldnt start, wound up sending the military distributor to Big John Midwest, who sent me back a refurbished unit and it works ok...Leaves me time to solve other issues..