Distributor gear failure

blubuckaroo

Grease Monkey

Joined

Jun 11, 2007

Messages

11,795

Loc.

Ridgefield WA

• Aug 18, 2007

• #1

What could be the cause of repeated distributor gear failure? The distributor gear is wearing on the back-side of the gear and usually won't last more than a couple of hours till the teeth break off. This is happening to my brother's Mercruiser 250 cubic inch six cylinder. I know! It's a Chevy! But the way a distributor is driven can't be that much different from a Ford.

 

eb66to77

Bronc'Ownly

Joined

Mar 26, 2005

Messages

2,558

Loc.

NOVA

• Aug 19, 2007

• #2

The cam may be walking for some reason. That would be something that would cause this. Another would be that the distributor is not seating completely. Another would be a bad cam gear or a bent distributor. I had an old Glassmaster with a 250 mercruiser in it but never had these kinds of problems. Good luck!

 

wildbill

Old Bronco Guy

Joined

Jun 29, 2001

Messages

6,885

• Aug 19, 2007

• #3

I would think its time to replace the cam. I have tried fixing with new dizzy and new gear but after the first time it went bad it messed up the cam drive gear also. Time to put in a nice Erson RV-15 or so good luck.;D ;D ;D Bill %) ;D

 

65 mustang

Sr. Member

Joined

Mar 30, 2007

Messages

430

• Aug 19, 2007

• #4

is it the wrong type gear? iron for cast or a stock type non-roller cam or steel gear for a roller cam. I know a cast gear wont last a hour on a roller cam.(that was a mess to clean all that steel out of the engine.)
Scott

 

Broncobowsher

Total hack

Joined

Jun 4, 2002

Messages

34,930

• Aug 19, 2007

• #5

Since the Chevy 250 only has a flat tappet cam, getting the wrong distributer gear would be nearly impossible for this application.
My guess is the cam was damaged by one of the earlier failures. That damage then goes to the new distrubuter gear and takes it out again and again.

 

BwoncoHowie

C-4 Wizard

Joined

Nov 11, 2002

Messages

3,571

• Aug 20, 2007

• #6

Try a quart of slick-50, it might be a cheap temporary fix until you replace the cam.

 

Madgyver

Bronco Madman

Joined

Jul 30, 2001

Messages

14,700

• Aug 20, 2007

• #7

Does the dizzy have a shaft that drive the oilpump?

If it does then maybe the oilpump may be the cause...

A high volume oilpump was the problem with mine....read it here..

 

eb66to77

Bronc'Ownly

Joined

Mar 26, 2005

Messages

2,558

Loc.

NOVA

• Aug 20, 2007

• #8

Mad, I had a similar problem with my Bronco's engine. I lost two oil pump drive rods and now I carry a spare and the required tools to fix in my tuffy. I never had any problems with my gear though, just the drive rod. I could tell that the aftermarket changed grade of the shaft too since the original twisted like a candy cane and the aftermarket shattered. I had lots of fun cleaning the oil pan with a magnet fisher from the drain hole. Now I know how tough it would be to be a proctologist.

 

bax

Contributor

Old Member

Joined

Aug 22, 2005

Messages

14,492

• Aug 20, 2007

• #9

Madgyver said:

Does the dizzy have a shaft that drive the oilpump?

If it does then maybe the oilpump may be the cause...

A high volume oilpump was the problem with mine....read it here..

Click to expand...

Mad is correct, with a high volume pump comes more pressure on the dist. gear. Also thick oil like 50 weight or even 40 will put more load on the gear. cam bearings going bad will also cause this problem. A worn out bearing in the dist will also allow the cam gear to sit to low on the cam causing more load on the ends of the teeth. cam gear installed wrong , same thing. Like already stated the cam gear could be messed up and you need a new cam.