distributor clutch

[solardanl]

could someone hold my hand through procedure of setting distributor clutch? It seems every head mech has their own method, none of which work for me. appreciate any help.

[8270king]

Re: distributor clutch

1. Start with 3/4 turn.
2. Index dist. until the 6 position.
3. Index dist and watch stop blade for hesitation.
4. If it hesitates, increase tension by 1/4 turn until no hesitation.
5. After no hesitation, incrase tension by one notch on the spring.....this allows for any temperature change or lubrication on the clutch plates or disc.

JK

[TheGMan143]

Re: distributor clutch

As usual, King's got it to a 'T'... Same procedure we use.

[solardanl]

Re: distributor clutch

how about the clutch plate onto the worm, 1 full turn?

[TheGMan143]

Re: distributor clutch

That could be a problem... the plate goes on to the worm JUST SHY of 1 turn. If you crank the plate down on to the worm before you finger-tight the oilseal washer and nut against it, you can cause the spiral of the plate to lift the worm up away from the inner washer and plate. When you tighten the nut in this condition, it causes the plates to bind.

After you put the thrust washer, pinion/sleeve/inner plate, and oil seal washer on, slide the worm on to the shaft until it bottoms, install the ring and outer plate, turning it only 1/2 way on to the worm. Install the outer washer and nut finger tight, and then turn the plate on the worm until it bottoms lightly. Install and tension the spring.

Oh, and if you want to save yourself some bent shafts, busted knuckles, and time beating out drive pins to clean clutches... try this:



1/4" Hitch Pin Clip - Lowe's, about $0.70/ea.

[Lampie]

Re: distributor clutch

Originally posted by TheGMan143:


Oh, and if you want to save yourself some bent shafts, busted knuckles, and time beating out drive pins to clean clutches... try this:



1/4" Hitch Pin Clip - Lowe's, about $0.70/ea.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If I shouldn't work on machines I think it's a good solution.
But I'm afraid my overall(or something else) will be catchet by that thing. This is too dangerous in my eyes.

Martin

[TheGMan143]

Re: distributor clutch

I put these on all the odd# machines around 2 years ago... so far, no problems. As for catching on things, it's so close to the camwheel and pan that if you have your head or clothes that close to it with the machine/pit on and running, you're asking to get caught on it... and you run about the same chance getting caught on the distributor drive tongs at the other end of the shaft. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] The clip is actually a smaller diameter than the plate... the tips don't stick out past the edges of the clutch.

The only issue we had for a while is that it made it a little harder to adjust tension with it in place... but we found that you can pull the pin, set the tension, and replace the pin in almost no time at all. That, and it will only work with steel u-joints. the nylon "pitbull" style ones are too fat for it to get around. So I use nylon on the evens and steel on the odds.

I figure it's saved us at least 2-3 distributor shafts and a lot of manhours a year in both cleaning clutches and replacing shafts.

[solardanl]

Re: distributor clutch

appreciate the help. i will try this on my problem machine and get back to you.

[Mike Stalker]

Re: distributor clutch

I have hitch pins on all my distributors; saves a lot of time and they hold up very well.

[the old dirt man]

Re: distributor clutch

a word of warning for any of you thinking of putting the hair pin on.
do not ever have a ring on. a friend of mine had one on, and one day he reached in to check the clutch tension and the hair pin got a hold of the ring and pulled all of the skin off his finger from where the ring was down!all the way down to the bone ouch! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] they could not re attach the skin so now he has a stub for a finger!
just something to think about! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]
DIRT

[TheGMan143]

Re: distributor clutch

Originally posted by the old dirt man:
a word of warning for any of you thinking of putting the hair pin on.
do not ever have a ring on. a friend of mine had one on, and one day he reached in to check the clutch tension and the hair pin got a hold of the ring and pulled all of the skin off his finger from where the ring was down!all the way down to the bone ouch! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] they could not re attach the skin so now he has a stub for a finger!
just something to think about! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]
DIRT

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That is an excellent example of a mechanic not following the basic safety procedures stuck to the crossmember of every AMF machine: PULL POWER AND MOTOR PLUGS BEFORE ENTERING MACHINE. That includes everything from climbing into the pit, to just sticking your hands in there. In our place, I will PERSONALLY kick anyone's a$$ if they do something stupid like sticking fingers, hands, heads, feet, or even PINHOOKS into the machine with it running. It not only helps to stop injury, it saves on machine damage from tools, parts, or whatnot falling into running assemblies and causing breakage...

Most companies/factories with machinery don't allow jewelry, long hair, and loose clothing anywhere on the production floor or near the machinery... with good reason. Why machine mechanics and pinnies think they're exempt from this, I'll never know... You wouldn't stick your hands into a running lawnmower to clean off the blades... why would you put your hands into a running piece of machinery that just as dangerous (if not more)?

Sorry for the bitchlist... I'm can't beat the 'Safety First' mantra into everyone enough to be satisfied. Ask any of our pinnies...

How the hell do you check the tension on a clutch with it running, anyway?

[Lampie]

Re: distributor clutch

I even don't like the roll pin sticking out of a universal joint like you see on your picture.
One of our pinnies lost his trousers on that one once, and I did read somewhere on this site a manager or someone else got caught by a roll pin at his ty and had almost strangled him...
Ofcours this is not the machines fault, but I work with a lot of one night standers that can make a mistake only once, and only once might kill them.
The problem with a "70 machine is that you will have to clear a distrubutor problem almost allways with the BE motor running(how do you get a dist. to the #1 if it is at #9), just standing a little bit to close to the clutch and..

[misterx]

Re: distributor clutch

??????????????????? What kind of clutches are you guys talking about ? I have all but converted all of my machines to a simplified clutch and all I have to do is take the nut just past the nylon and as long as my stop blades are centered and the eccentrics are right I don't have a problem. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]

[misterx]

Re: distributor clutch

OOPS SORRY, I just scrolled up and saw the old clutches. I wasn't big on the simplified clutches until I got used to them. Now I am converting the entire house.

[Lampie]

Re: distributor clutch

Originally posted by misterx:
OOPS SORRY, I just scrolled up and saw the old clutches. I wasn't big on the simplified clutches until I got used to them. Now I am converting the entire house.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Please enlight us or just me?????????????????????????????????????????????
Ahdohnohwatyatalkin'about.

Simplified Lampie