1951 Distributor- Vacuum advance +

[Go Fleiter]

Thank You, David! I got a similar spare unit with working vacuum chamber, but different connecting lever. Made a lever to fit and it works by heavily succking. (Did gas have a better taste in earlier years?). I have a choice of 3 thick washers and 2 different springs now and will try the performance on the engine, if nobody comes with a bench testing method (no distributor test machine available).

  I activated the loose spring to just get the slack off. Will see.

Thanks again! Go

[David Pollock]

The springs should not have any play, but all that would happen is the advance would be a little quicker off the mark.  The leaking vacuum chamber will need to be replaced, and may be difficult to obtain. They generally come without the washers and spring, so if you install the same spring and washers from your old unit, you will obtain satisfactory results.

[Go Fleiter]

Dear all,

  does anyone know a rule of a thumb to check the vacuum advance spring tension?. The manual gives a chart relating my IAT 4011 ?s advance 1 vs. 9 degrees to 6 vs. 14 in vacuum. Don?t have the necessary evacuaton instruments. Putting one or 2 washers more makes a big difference. Above all I have 2 different springs, one of my leaking vacuum advance.

   Same for mechanical advance: How can I check the suspicious spring tension of the governor weights without a rpm distributor tester?

  One of my governor springs has play in the 0 rpm position and  my vacuum advance unit was completely leaking air.
I didn?t feel any fireing problem but found all while cleaning the distributor.

Thanks in "advance" . Greetings! Go