punger (cylinder) in fuel distributor stuck, now what??

[artisticent]

So, im trying to get my 2.7s motor running. It had been sitting for a long time without it being ran for any levgth of time. I have fuel pumping to the distributor because when i loosen the 12mm bolt on each of the 6 lines they all squirt gas but in the air box when I reach in and play with the metal lever thing it swings freely with no gas flowing. So I have taken off the 6 12mm bolts and the 3 flat head screws and lifted it up to reveal the cylinder. It is stuck up. Iv tried needle nose pliers to loosen it but it aint happenin.
What now???
Thanks
Nathan

[len911]

If I read correctly, you have removed the fuel distributor from the air box. Whatever you do, be very gentle with the plunger, if you damage it the FD is toast! You can try using some carb cleaner or PB blaster to disolve the gunk that is holding it up. Search for fuel distributor, thread recently might show you how plunger works with inner metering unit. Good Luck! Lou

[Paulporsche]

Be careful with that thing. Don't use pliers or anything more abrasive than a fine crocus cloth (a mild emery-like cloth that mechanics use) on it. Also, if you remove the distributor and you have freed up the plunger, put your hand under it or the plunger will fall out the bottom, land on something hard and be ruined.

[vash]

i had the same thing. i used carb cleaner, and i taped up the tip of some needlenose pliers and simply worked it ever so slightly. it came loose after a bit. i did all this work on a pile of scrap towels, just in case it popped out uncontrolled. and it did.

[Pkaaso]

Not sure if common knowledge but, If you take the FD apart, it's junk.

$0.2

BTW where in Cali are you?

Paul

[Jim Williams]

If you're lucky you might get it unstuck with the carb cleaner. The area on the piston where you can get pliers around the piston, if you restrict the area to the narrow part at the bottom of the piston, can take a little abuse as it doesn't contact anything in the fuel distributor.

If the pliers don't work, the next step would be to use air pressure in the port where the WUR connects. BUT A WORD OF CAUTION...... If the air pressure pops the piston out, you'd better have something soft to capture it, like a big folded up terry towel with a bunch of folded up layers. The piston does not need, nor will it tolerate, any scratches or dents where it slides onto the FD casting. Else the whole assembly is toast.

Pkasso,

As far as the disassembly of the FD, one of our Pelicanites did this recently and apparently met with success in repairing it and putting it back together so it worked. See

CIS fuel distributer cleanout w/pics

[artisticent]

I took it apart, cleaned all parts and reassembled and it works perfectly.
Thanks for all the help gang. by the way, if you use an air gun to blow it out, wahtch the little filters inside, they will fly out.
Nathan

[Pkaaso]

Doh! I stand corrected. It's the "Re-sealing" part that is of concern. I was taught that these are Non-Repairable. Great methods used in that thread.

I tried it on my 74' when I first got it. Cleaned it very well and torqued it perfectly, leaked from the gasket. I did not try to seal as described.

Thanks for the knowledge. However, I could/would never do this on a customer's car unless they signed a waiver.

Paul

[artisticent]

To be honest I used no resealer. I just tightned the 6 flathead screws and the 3 on top as tight as I felt to be right. Seems ok. Im sure i just got lucky.