Oiling the distributor

[Hotwatermusic]

Originally Posted by Randy Webb

Distributor removal, clean & oil felt under rotor --- every sparkplug
change

Distributor disassembly, inspect for wear --- Annually

Distributor Detail Compilation:
Remove the felt center, and put drops of engine oil down the shaft
until it won't take any more (i.e. until the oil forms a column of
oil all the way up the hollow interior of the dist. shaft), then put
the plug back and put a few more drops of oil on it, until it is
saturated. This 'oiling' needs to be done at least yearly.

The felt has to be taken out to assure an adequate supply of oil gets
all the way down the shaft to the pivot plate.

After tackling what turned out to be a rotor-related no-start issue, I'd like to get my distributor running as top notch as possible. I've read about oiling the felt, and all the way down the inside, but when I take off my rotor and the plastic cover, I see this:
So let me get the stupid question out immediately. Where is the felt I need to oil? And the shaft, exactly?

Thanks!!

[jpnovak]

The felt is normally pressed in the shaft hollow above the slotted screw. Your felt is missing.

Looking at the distributor I suggest you find Gunter's thread about rebuilding the distributor and pull it out of the car for a good cleaning and lubrication.

the process takes about an hour and will do wonders for another decade of service.

[RWebb]

Warren Hall - Early S Man - answered this in a long how to thread - he also said they you need to completely disassemble the thing to do it right - I specifically asked if you could just oil the felt and he said no.

find out his exact user name & then do an advanced search to find that thread

[Hotwatermusic]

Thanks guys. I guess the small consolation in this is that no, I'm not an idiot that can't find a simple felt, it's just completely gone!

Is the felt something I could "fabric"ate at home?

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by jpnovak

Looking at the distributor I suggest you find Gunter's thread about rebuilding the distributor and pull it out of the car for a good cleaning and lubrication.

the process takes about an hour and will do wonders for another decade of service.

Gunter's thread:

Distributor service (Clean and lube) real easy without removing the pinion gear!

good info here!

[euro911sc]

You can get the felt in the 912 Dist. rebuild kit that sto--ddard carries. In that kit is also enough metal spacers/washers to re-build your dist with the proper shaft play provided your bushings are not shot. Its easy to drill out the old pin and disassemble the whole thing for cleaning. Just be very careful of the little plastic bits the springs attach to... totally irreplaceable as far as I know.

-Michael

[RWebb]

sure, just cut a circle out of some thick felt