Distributor vacuum canister

[tinlid]

My vacuum canister is bad. I picked up a new one. Should be easy to change. Only 2 screws holding it in. But I cannot get the 2 screws out because the points plate blocks them coming out. What am I missing? I really do not want to pull the distributor. Any help/ideas appreciated.

[geezer#99]

Rotate the points plate gently ccw.

[tinlid]

It does not want to move.

[geezer#99]

If the point plate won't move it's likely your vac pot is good.
Maybe you got something under it or a screw stopping it from moving.
Perhaps the wrong screw was used to hold the points or condensor on to the plate.

[tinlid]

Thanks Geezer#99! A small screwdriver let me pry the point plate around enough to get the old one out. New one went in really easy. You can barely move the arm on the old one with a lot of force and vacuum will not move it at all.

[Jurassic-1]

I have come across this in the past. The point plate rotates inside the dist. housing.I have had it sieze up from old dry grease. If it is it is much easier to remove the distributor to either repair or replace it. You can easily take it apart once it is removed. Be sure to put the engine on top dead center or mark the rotor position before removing the distributor. Once removed use a pin punch and remove the lower gear on the distributor. clean the shaft and lube it with w-d40 then pull the shaft out. Once removed you can remove the small spring clip on the upper shaft. You should be able to acess the 2 vacuum screws and remove the advance unit. then remove the wire to the points and remove the points plate. You can clean it with carb cleaner or solvent then lightly grease the shaft and reverse the procedure.