Distributor "spinner"
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Engine Repair
Forum Discription: Engine problems and solutions
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40395
Printed Date: October-07-2024 at 2:31am
Topic: Distributor "spinner"
Posted By: KENO
Subject: Distributor "spinner"
Date Posted: January-12-2017 at 7:52pm
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[QUOTE=Duane in Indy] If you can find a shop that still has a distributor machine and knows how to use it then you will be able to set up the advance curve. I know of a machine near me but have zero idea of how to operate it. Been too long ago. Maybe some old guy like Pete would know how.  Since distributor machines are rare and ridiculously expensive these days, I built my own low tek red nek version of the real thing There's quite a bit that it can do and quite a bit that it can't do but it does everything I wanted it to do I like to call it a distributor spinner. It was basically some more or less junk stuff I had hanging around. Started with a 12 volt DC motor from a radiator fan (from I think an old Subaru.) Had a degree wheel hanging aroiund Also had a cheap tach that I figured I could put to good use. I had to actually spend some money on a cheap 12 volt DC motor variable speed controller so I spent about 15 bucks on EBAY. Used a few other miscellaneous parts like a terminal strip, some wires, a light switch, some scrap wood and I even threw the kitchen sink at it. Well, sort of. One of my kids was remodeling his kitchen so I scrounged the formica counter top out of the trash pile to make the bench top to mount all this stuff on  Almost forgot, I used a piece of 1/2 inch ID rubber hose as a coupler to hook the distributor shaft to the motor and cut up a bracket from a scrap mower deck to make the arm that holds the distributor. Used a shaft collar with a 1 5/8 ID for my bracket to hold a 351W distributor. (There's a separate adapter for a Chevy distributor that uses a 1 1/4 ID collar ) Had to make a mount for a spark plug and decided to make another one for 8 plugs, but I usually use the single plug unless I want to turn all the lights off and watch the light show I got out my fine machining tools (circular saw, Paslode nail gun,drill,and my trusty 4 1/2 inch angle grinder, my welder and a few other miscellaneous tools and went at it. The end result is what's in the picture with a screw down Prestolite in it   You can't see the spark plug in the picture because it's behind the distributor and the TDC pointer is not in the picture, It's a metal block with a pointer that I can move around as I need to. You use your regular timing light hooked up just as you would in the boat. You can mount whatever coil you want, use a ballast resistor or bypass it. Test a points or electronic distributor A car battery provides the motive force for the motor by way of the speed controller. The motor will turn the distributor up to 2500 rpm max which corresponds to 5000 engine RPM so I can check advance at whatever RPM I want. (If your advance isn't fully in by that speed, you have some problems to deal with) The light switch sends 12 volts to the coil when it's ON and kills coil power when it's OFF. The tach reads "engine RPM" since it's hooked to the coil and the degree wheel shows "distributor advance" so I have to multiply the advance by 2 to get crankshaft advance. It may look goofy but I can check advance curves check dwell, check points, check coils, check ballast resistors and if somebody gives me a used electronic conversion for example, I can check it on this before installing it. (Thanks Hollywood )I can also keep myself amused for long periods of time playing with ignition components For a Chevy distributor I reverse direction by reversing the motor leads under the table and if I want to jack up voltage to simulate alternator output, I plug in the battery charger and get about 14 volts. As a test of it's accuracy, I took a NOS Mallory with a known, documented advance curve and compared my results to the known curve and they matched very well.so I was happy. The best part is that any "Backyard hack" can build this. The hardest part was mounting the degree wheel to the motor shaft with an adapter that could then be coupled to the distributor shaft with rubber hose. Also need to ground the distributor and the spark plug for things to make spark. Overall wiring was pretty straightforward. There are probably things I forgot to mention but this is to show that anybody can do it KenO |
Replies:
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: January-12-2017 at 10:00pm
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Ken - That is great work! I have a hunch you are going to be the go-to guy for checking advance curves. ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: Duane in Indy
Date Posted: January-12-2017 at 10:48pm
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KENO, Now that's cool. Really like the engineering you put into this. I may be able to get a hold of the dist. machine I pictured if you are interested. Duane ------------- Keep it as original as YOU want it 1978 Mustang (modified) |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-12-2017 at 11:55pm
| Ha that's awesome Ken. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-13-2017 at 6:23am
Ken,  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: January-13-2017 at 10:38am
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Excellent bit of red nek engineering there. Very well done. There is one element I found inconsistent with the rest of it tho.
Just doesnt seem you should have to crawl under the table and mess with wiring to do this. You probably know this, but I'll put it out there anyway. Here is an easy way to reverse polarity (I learned back in my old model railroad days) Just wire up a double pole-double throw (DPDT) toggle switch (that you used to be able to get easily enough from Radio Shack (RIP). I guess you go to amazon now.) like this.  ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
KENO wrote:Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-13-2017 at 2:19pm
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Funny you should mention this Larry. Almost did that but didn't have one handy. Keeping it red nek, it's just 2 color coded bullet connectors to swap. Might have to get a switch though, Thanks |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-13-2017 at 2:23pm
Hi Duane Thanks but shipping would be crazy and this thing does everything I need it to. Maybe somebody else might be interested though
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Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: January-13-2017 at 2:26pm
Well then, keeping that in mind, you would have to admit, one of these would be a nice touch to the table top. ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |