Distributer shaft not spinning

[Anonymous-0]

I got a massey harris 44-6 with a continnental motor in it. I have never actually had the thing running, but I am working on it. I Had the distributer cap off, and put the new starter in, to see how it turned over. While I pushed the button, I noticed that the shaft inside the distibuter wasnt spinning. The shaft is tight in the motor, as in it isnt loose and the gear at the bottom of it must not be broken. I dont know if this is right, but doesnt it have to spin so it will start the engine? What could be wrong with it? Thanks

 

[kito169]

You will need to pull the distributor out of the block and check the gear and shaft to see if it is broken. also those old distributors had a roll pin in the shaft so that it could be removed for the shaft to be removed from the distributor housing. hope this helps. Rick

 

[Janicholson]

That shaft must spin. It times the spark. It also is (probably) driven by the cam and below that into the pan, the oil pump drive system. If you mark the rotor's pointing direction(probably meaningless in this case), and pull the distributor, the cam drive gear will be visible. If it does not rotate there are major issues that will require deeper disassembly maybe a cam drive, broken cam, or other grief. Let us know what you find. JimN