SC Distributor: How to get to the weights/springs for cleaning?

[Gunter]

The distributor on a SC must be different from the Carrera one.
There is a screw under the felt in the center of the shaft.
There is a circlip on the outside of the shaft holding the timer core.
I don't want to remove the gear if I don't have to but at this point don't see how to get to the weights for cleaning.

So, do I have to remove the gear to slide the center shaft, with everything on it, out towards the top?
Or, with circlip removed, can I pry up on the timer core and remove it to get to the weights?
What is the purpose of the screw under the felt?

Thanks

[Tim Hancock]

It has been awhile, but here is a link I posted that detailed my distributor "rebuild". DIY Distributor Repair

As far as I recall, the gear must be removed and the shaft then pulled outward to get to the weights.

EDIT: It appears I am wrong about the the gear needing to come off (post below states it is doable). I never even tried to disassemble that portion, as I had to pull the gear to replace the worn bushing

[fumanchu]

Man,.... I just did this and I definately did not remove the gear. There were two circlips on the center shaft, the center screw and three more( I think) screws down inside the base of the dist. body that you can barely see on the edge of the inner plate ( search hard for these).

After all that is removed mine still would not completly come apart. The vac. advance lever was rusted to the inner plate and it is impossible to see. I thought it was held on by a circlip, but it just lifts off inside. It will probably be rusted on, you just have to work it back and forth and it will come eventually.

My advance weights were glued by grime into the advance position( high Idle hanging when warm) and everything cleaned up nicely. I used 3 in 1 oil, no dist lube as I did not have any.

Good luck Gunter, your posts have helped me in the past!

Shawn

[fumanchu]

Sorry, few other steps,

The timer core is removed and is held with a tiny roll pin. Be careful when you pry. I put the body in a vice and pried equally with two screwdrivers. I believe there were two separate roll pins to remove and everything lifted out after removing the screws in the above post.

I know it can be done without removing the gear!

[smcdermaid]

This may seem obvious but it slowed me down on mine. You'll need to remove the spring clip retaining screws from the outside of the dist body for the internals to come out the top. The screws protrude into the inside of the dist creating an interference that wouldn't allow the weights plate to slide up.