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My Rotor Cracked!
Driving to work this morning....BAMB...POP...stall.... I got off the road quickly, opened the deck lid and found the distributor cap partially off, the rotor cracked, and the dust shield laying outside the distributor!
I'm hoping I can just replace the rotor (and the cap), but is this a symptom of a problem with my distributor? What should I check for?
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Bill Krause We don't wonder where we're going or remember where we've been. |
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06-10-2002, 11:42 AM
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Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: TX USA
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Bill,
Sounds like the fiber washer above the dist. gear fractured and departed ... endplay took a big jump! With the 'normal' endplay of 0.001" to 0.003" your rotor wouldn't be able to contact the cap!
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Warren Hall, Jr. 1973 911S Targa ... 'Annie' 1968 340S Barracuda ... 'Rolling Thunder' |
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06-10-2002, 11:50 AM
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Is that up and down movement of the shaft or side to side?
I'll see if there's play in the shaft in either direction. I noticed that one of the clips that holds the cap in place is fairly loose, possibly allowing for movement of the cap. If I remember right, this problem occured as I hit a bump.
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Bill Krause We don't wonder where we're going or remember where we've been. |
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06-10-2002, 11:55 AM
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On a related issue,
While replacing my cap and rotor in my 87, I found pieces of a fiber washer in the bottom of the distributor. Should I pull the dizzy and replace the washer? I do not see a fiber washer listed in the PAT Catalog.
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Randy '87 911 Targa '17 Macan GTS |
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06-10-2002, 11:55 AM
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Well, I am able to wiggle the shaft in and out probably more than I should be able to. I don't have anything to measure it with here.
This is a bad time to have to pull my distributor as I just sold my more dependable (boring) transportation, and my 911 is my only driver right now. I may have to replace the rotor and cross my fingers for a couple of weeks.
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Bill Krause We don't wonder where we're going or remember where we've been. |
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06-10-2002, 12:17 PM
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Location: TX USA
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Bill,
I don't think readial runout can deteriorate suddenly, as it is usually a bushing wear problem. The excessive endplay or float can suddenly happen ... just as you experienced ... remember Ragtop's problem? Randy, Ragtop's many problems because of 0.125" endfloat issues were on an '86, I believe! So, yes, I would recommend getting the fiber washer replaced. Any motor/generator rebuild shop should have a selection of fiber and steel washers, shims, etc. ... that will fit and work just fine.
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Warren Hall, Jr. 1973 911S Targa ... 'Annie' 1968 340S Barracuda ... 'Rolling Thunder' |
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06-10-2002, 12:21 PM
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Where exactly does the fiber washer belong?
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Randy '87 911 Targa '17 Macan GTS |
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06-10-2002, 12:28 PM
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Randy,
Warren posted a great diagram in this thread. It's an earlier dizzy then yours. distributor lube...
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Bill Krause We don't wonder where we're going or remember where we've been. |
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06-10-2002, 12:35 PM
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I cannot tell from the diagram exactly where the missing fiber washer(s) would go on an 87 distributor.
Has anyone had one apart recently? It appears that the washer(s) go on top of the cam (item 10), below the rotor? Should I have 1 or 2? Or are they like shims - put on to achieve the .001-.003" tolerance?
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Randy '87 911 Targa '17 Macan GTS |
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06-10-2002, 03:25 PM
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1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0L 
1987 Porsche 911 Targa 3.2 
