Installing New Pick Up Coil

[Daniel K.]

Is there a specific tool used to remove the housing for the tach drive on my TI distributor and is this tool available from any of the mail order tool companies? Also, can the roll pin be reused on the bottom gear?

Thanks for your help.

Dan K.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Daniel,

If you are talking about the brass bushing for the tach drive gear, I use a steel putty knife to put in the slot and turn..

Don't know of a special tool.

[Mike Z.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Dan-
Like all Chevy distributors of the era, the coil P/U or point plate is held in place on the housing (actually the upper bushing) with a spring clip that can easily be removed with a small blade screw driver. However, in order to get to that clip, you must first remove the X-gear & coupler-I use a putty knife, as suggested. Once the coupler is removed, hammer and punch can remove the rolled pin (it can be re-used if not damaged).

On re-install, you should change out the upper seal & felt and re-pack the lube well. Lightly lube the outside of the upper bushing & brass washer before, so coil P/U rotates freely. When you re-install the shaft, do not over lube, but rather lube the inside of the bushings-that way excess lube is pushed out the bottom, rather than end up in the coil P/U area if you over lube the shaft. When you re-install the lower gear, be sure to align the small dimple (next to one side of the pin hole) with the square hole on the pole piece where the rotor installs.
Good luck, hope these tips help.
Mike Zamora
#12455

[Daniel K.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Tim and Mike,

Thanks for your response. I'll be diving into the rebuild this weekend. I'm certain I should not have too many issues and I might just get the 65 fired up too. Will let you both know of the results. Thanks again. Dan K.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Danial,

When you take the tach gear out of the distributor side look carefully at the housing where the gear rides inside. If the distributor housing is wore just like the end of that gear you need to install a brass button.

If you don't and leave it this way at some point it will eat the gear on the mainshaft because of misalignment and $$$.

[Daniel K.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil


Thanks again for reading and looking at the pictures.
Dan K.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Daniel, Look at a current post on page one. There is a picture showing how the side gear can wear into the distributor housing. If your distributor looks like this then install a bronze button inside for the gear to ride on.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

remember there is a + and - to the pickup leads so don't reverse them in the "L" shaped connector or you will have a surging problem

[Daniel K.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Tim,

Yep, looks just like that. Was going to see if there is a GM part # listed somewhere. Thanks!

[Timothy B.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Daniel,

If the inside surface looks like the pic the install a bronze button. Use the screw in bushing and larger drill bit to remove the nub and provide a drill start then finish STRAIGHT thru with the correct size bit so the button is snug in the hole.

Take the assembly to machine shop and have the area end milled 1/2" wide, .060 deep so the button sits flat in the housing. This is important because you can then reuse the washer to protect the bushing and the gear will spin without binding. If the bronze button is a little large in OD to fit inside the milled hole just chuck it in a drill and spin it using a file to reduce OD a bit.

Last, cut the stem of the button about 1/8 short from sticking out of the distributor and use some JB weld to fill hole. After it hardenes use a sharp razor standing up to gradually scrap the epoxy down to level and paint the distributor. Never know it's there and fixed for life

[Daniel K.]

Re: Installing New Pick Up Coil

Thank you Tim.

I think I'm going to go to plan B and send the distributor to Fiedler for complete rebuild. I'd hate to screw this work up.

Thank you again for your help.

Dan K.