Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 06-24-2018, 03:24 PM

Been trying to set the timing on my L6 engine. It runs poorly, but it runs. I loosened the bolt holding the distributor shaft and made sure the little fork had free play. I can't for the life of me turn the distributor to adjust the timing. It's stuck. It's an awkward thing to grip with tools so I thought I'd check for ideas before I damaged something.

geezer#99 · 06-24-2018, 03:31 PM

Tap on the vacuum pot with a chunk of wood lightly.
Hammer handle will. Work.

**Getter-Done** · 06-24-2018, 04:49 PM

Spray PB Blaster at the base right there were you took the fork loose.
Remove the fork and use a set of good channel-locks.

Be very careful. Try one direction then flip channel-locks and try the other way.

You may choose to remove oil filter to give you a little more room.

Maybe it will work without that unless you need to change the oil anyway.

bill3rail · 06-24-2018, 05:24 PM

How many coats of paint are covering the base to block mating area?

Run a razor around it to loosen it up.

Bill

volksworld · 06-25-2018, 11:30 AM

did you actually put a timing light on it yet or check if points and vacuum can are ok? cant imagine the distributors been in the wrong position for so many years that its seized in there

bluec10 · 06-25-2018, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Spray PB Blaster at the base right there were you took the fork loose.
Remove the fork and use a set of good channel-locks.

Be very careful. Try one direction then flip channel-locks and try the other way.

You may choose to remove oil filter to give you a little more room.

Maybe it will work without that unless you need to change the oil anyway.

I've been blasting it over the last few days. Sometimes a bit of patience helps but the thing still won't move.

bluec10 · 06-25-2018, 02:21 PM

It moved two years ago when I last worked on it. I didn't get it running well but had to park the truck due to other commitments. Trying to get it going now. I'm baffled about why its stuck. Didn't do anything strange last time.

geezer#99 · 06-25-2018, 02:35 PM

Does it turn at all in either direction?

toolboxchev · 06-26-2018, 03:12 AM

Dissimilar metals will corrode together almost forming a type of weld. Have faith in the PB stuff.

bluec10 · 06-26-2018, 12:13 PM

No. It's solid. Two years ago I did some adjustments and it turned fine. It's solid as a rock and I can't budge it...and I've got a very strong track record of "budging" things.

bluec10 · 06-26-2018, 12:14 PM

That's a good reminder. Add heat and whatever crap has accumulated and you can get a pretty strong bond. I've just been blasting it when I get home from work and I'll see if it moves when I have time on the weekend.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 06-26-2018, 04:22 PM

Can you turn the crank?

**Grumpy old man** · 06-26-2018, 04:25 PM

sounds like the engine is frozen ? Smack it with a big hammer and upgrade to hei .

bluec10 · 06-26-2018, 04:58 PM

Engine turns, dist doesn't.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 06-26-2018, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluec10

Engine turns, dist doesn't.

So the rotor rotates when the engine turns?

bluec10 · 07-03-2018, 02:56 PM

Fixed it! Time and persistence paid off. I’ve been blasting it with penetrating oil every time I remembered. Today I removed the oil filter for better access and used a flat punch to tap wherever I could. Then I put a pair of vice-grips on the shaft and used muscle power to slowly break it free.

Now, just need to charge the battery so I can start it and set the timing.

Just another lesson in patience - one that I need to learn.

**Getter-Done** · 07-03-2018, 04:03 PM

Good news.

demian5 · 07-03-2018, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluec10

Today I removed the oil filter for better access

Id pay to see this setup!

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 07-03-2018, 09:17 PM

Did the last person to R+ R the distributor forget to put down the gasket? Or was the old gasket glued down w/ RTV or ''supersnot'' [3M Weatherstrip Adhesive]?
If there wasn't one there, you need to get a gasket. The ID is about 1-1/8'' and the OD is about 1-1/2'' --roughly. I think it's the same diameter as the V8, but I coulb be wrong.
At any rate you need a new one. Put a dab of motor oil on both top and bottom surfaces before you put it down. Then you won't get this gripe again.

06-24-2018, 03:24 PM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Been trying to set the timing on my L6 engine. It runs poorly, but it runs. I loosened the bolt holding the distributor shaft and made sure the little fork had free play. I can't for the life of me turn the distributor to adjust the timing. It's stuck. It's an awkward thing to grip with tools so I thought I'd check for ideas before I damaged something. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

06-24-2018, 03:31 PM	#2
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,731	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Tap on the vacuum pot with a chunk of wood lightly. Hammer handle will. Work.

06-24-2018, 04:49 PM	#3
Getter-Done Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: TN. Posts: 8,408	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Spray PB Blaster at the base right there were you took the fork loose. Remove the fork and use a set of good channel-locks. Be very careful. Try one direction then flip channel-locks and try the other way. You may choose to remove oil filter to give you a little more room. Maybe it will work without that unless you need to change the oil anyway. __________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build

06-24-2018, 05:24 PM	#4
bill3rail Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: LI, NY 11801 Posts: 1,140	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust How many coats of paint are covering the base to block mating area? Run a razor around it to loosen it up. Bill __________________ 1970 C10 8' Fleetside, L6 250, 3 on the Tree. The most basic of pickup trucks!

06-25-2018, 11:30 AM	#5
volksworld Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: formerly NY currentlyNC Posts: 390	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust did you actually put a timing light on it yet or check if points and vacuum can are ok? cant imagine the distributors been in the wrong position for so many years that its seized in there __________________ 1970 short step c10 leaf spring 454

06-25-2018, 02:21 PM	#7
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust It moved two years ago when I last worked on it. I didn't get it running well but had to park the truck due to other commitments. Trying to get it going now. I'm baffled about why its stuck. Didn't do anything strange last time. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

06-25-2018, 02:35 PM	#8
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,731	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Does it turn at all in either direction?

06-26-2018, 03:12 AM	#9
toolboxchev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road. Posts: 2,629	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Dissimilar metals will corrode together almost forming a type of weld. Have faith in the PB stuff.

06-26-2018, 12:13 PM	#10
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust No. It's solid. Two years ago I did some adjustments and it turned fine. It's solid as a rock and I can't budge it...and I've got a very strong track record of "budging" things. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

06-26-2018, 12:14 PM	#11
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust That's a good reminder. Add heat and whatever crap has accumulated and you can get a pretty strong bond. I've just been blasting it when I get home from work and I'll see if it moves when I have time on the weekend. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

06-26-2018, 04:22 PM	#12
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,504	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Can you turn the crank? __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

06-26-2018, 04:25 PM	#13
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust sounds like the engine is frozen ? Smack it with a big hammer and upgrade to hei .

06-26-2018, 04:58 PM	#14
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Engine turns, dist doesn't. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

07-03-2018, 02:56 PM	#16
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Fixed it! Time and persistence paid off. I’ve been blasting it with penetrating oil every time I remembered. Today I removed the oil filter for better access and used a flat punch to tap wherever I could. Then I put a pair of vice-grips on the shaft and used muscle power to slowly break it free. Now, just need to charge the battery so I can start it and set the timing. Just another lesson in patience - one that I need to learn. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

07-03-2018, 04:03 PM	#17
Getter-Done Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: TN. Posts: 8,408	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Good news. __________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build



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07-03-2018, 09:17 PM	#19
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,504	Re: Help - Distributor Won't Turn to Adjust Did the last person to R+ R the distributor forget to put down the gasket? Or was the old gasket glued down w/ RTV or ''supersnot'' [3M Weatherstrip Adhesive]? If there wasn't one there, you need to get a gasket. The ID is about 1-1/8'' and the OD is about 1-1/2'' --roughly. I think it's the same diameter as the V8, but I coulb be wrong. At any rate you need a new one. Put a dab of motor oil on both top and bottom surfaces before you put it down. Then you won't get this gripe again. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

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