Hi there , I have a 75 Mav 6 cyl , wondering how to get the gear over top of the breaker plate in the distributor off so I can replace the breaker plate ... It looks like there is a small ring clamp or spring in there , I am just wondering how to get that gear off without ruining anything ... Thanks in advance ... Cheers
Might be easier to remove the bottom gear and pull the whole shaft out. Have you considered just getting a refurbished distributor? Less than $50 at www.rockauto.com
I already have the breaker plate , just wanted to know if it was easy ... Thanks for the advice though ...
Internal snap ring on top holds the reluctor in place.. roll pin at the bottom holds the gear on the shaft. I'd also highly suggest installing some shims(kits for .500 ID shafts come with various thicknesses to end up with slightly under .020 clearance) to take up the slack between the collar above the gear. End play is usually excessive(sometimes well over .050) and causes timing to jump back and forth to some small degree or another(especially when the motor is quickly accelled and decelled). Add a sloppy timing chain into that mix and things can be all over the place and improved upon with tighter shaft end play. PS. be sure not to lose that tiny little c-clip that attaches the vac advance canister arm to the breaker plate. Magnets work best to keep them under control.
It's been a while, but on my '75 302, I seem to remember using two screwdrivers and leveraged the reluctor off it's shaft. It had a small roll pin keeping it indexed to the shaft. Then the breaker plate could be removed. On a 302 points distributor , the breaker plate will come off over the point cam due to a large center hole in plate. I believe on electronic, the reluctor must be removed first.
