Mallory Ignition Mallory TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE FOR A POINT STYLE DISTRIBUTOR - Manual (Page 2)

FORM 1484M
11/03
Made in U.S.A.
Printed in U.S.A.
MALLORY IS A DIVISION OF THE MR. GASKET PERFORMANCE GROUP
10601 MEMPHIS AVE. #12, CLEVELAND, OH 44144
216.688.8300
FAX 216.688.8306
www.mrgasket.com
2
weights when they are fully advanced. The point
plate also moves and must be free of anything that
could bind it. The screw must be flush with the
inside of the bowl. Another option would be to put
a clamp on the lower shank area of the housing.
The distributor clamp is not a reliable ground.
5. Make sure that the block is also grounded to
the frame.
MECHANICAL ISSUES
EFFECTING DISTRIBUTORS
IF THE TIMING IS ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN
CHECKED WITH A TIMING LIGHT
1. First check for excessive wear in the gears. Grab
the rotor and turn it back and forth. If it has
excessive play, check for wear on both the
camshaft and the distributor.
2. If the gears appear normal, use a socket and a
breaker bar to gently rotate the crankshaft back and
forth. The key here is to see how far the crank
rotates before the rotor moves. Anything beyond a
few degrees indicates a worn timing chain/gear
assembly that needs to be replaced.
3. Check the advance. The simple way to evaluate
the advance is simply grab the rotor and turn it.
This will activate the mechanical advance and give
some indication if there is a problem in the
distributor. If you can turn it one way against the
springs and it snaps back to the original position
when it is released, it is fine.
1. If it binds, the advance is suspect and
needs to be checked.
2. If it turns but does not come back to the
rest position, the springs have probably
either come off or are broken.
IF THE POINTS ARE CONTINUALLY OUT OF
ADJUSTMENT
1. Check the upper end of the shaft for excessive side
to side movement. Lateral movement will cause
the points to require constant adjustment. The only
solution is to replace or rebuild the distributor.
2. Confirm that the point set is not designed for racing
only with excessive spring tension. This increases
rubbing block wear even with properly lubricated.