Massey Harris with f140 engine question

[golfcartman]

I pulled the distributor to put new rings in this engine and my question is how to replace the distributor. Can you put it in wrong? It looks as if it will only go
in one way but I need to hear from some one if possible. My manual tells how to time the engine but not how to replace dist. Thanks for the help

 

[J. Schwiebert]

The drive shaft for the distributor will go in either way at the bottom

 

[DanielW]

John's the expert in pretty much everything, so I'm not going to second guess him, but until I saw his reply I would have bet dollars to buttons that it only goes in one way. I'm assuming that this must be off a 22 or 81 if it has the F140? and that you're talking about the lobed drive boss at the bottom of the distributor shaft (item 44 & 56 in link below)?

All the other Continentals in Massey and Cockshutt tractors I've been around have only fit one way, as the lobe/tang was slightly offset to one side. But that's only my foolish speculation, as I haven't been around and F140 in a Massey for many years. I do know the similar F162 and F163's in other tractors only go in one way.
Distributor Parts

 

[Bob N.Y.]

Put a cork in the #1 spark plug hole and turn he engine over by hand until it pushes the cork out. Now set the distributor rotor to line up with the #1 terminal on the distributor cap and install the distributor.

 

[stevieb49829]

Just be careful that the offset tang between the shaft in the engine, and the shaft in the distributor are lined up right before you bolt it down. Good way to snap the bolt tang off the side of the distributor housing!!I had to make sure the engine shaft sat correctly in the oil pump, so the distributor was not 180 degrees off. steve