Spring in the distrib drive, Needed? Options

[jeffdon]

Have a feeling I did not install a spring between the Distrib, and the Distrib Pinion gear/drive. Do not see it in the Raby video, but its in the factory parts schematic. I am running an 050 (i think, its not an 009) mech. adv. distrib. Do I need to put the spring in?

[ME733]

..........YES ABSOLUTELY PUT THE SPRING IN..........here.s why....the spring keeps tension on the / between the distributor drive tang and the distributor drive GEAR ensuring that the distributor drive gear does not BOUNCE AROUND/up and down, which will alter timing AND cause rapid wear at the bronze crank gear drive.(which creates metal bits which are non-magnetic).....YOU have got to be careful when installing it.....there is a opening in the drive shaft wall( the crank case)...and it is big enough that IF the spring goes into it ...it will fall into the front (timing cover)..front section of the crank case and you will not be able to retreve it. I have had good results installing the spring this way. ..Put grease into the distributor drive gear seat POCKET for the spring. use a LONG NON magnetic wood stick, (that will fit inside the spring loosely) put the stick into the distributor drive gear pocket, drop the spring down the wood stick. it will stick to the grease....as insurance slide a soda straw down the stick , push down as you withdraw the wood stick...the spring will stay put while you reinstall the distributor. best bet is to get a distributor drive and spring so you can really get the right "tools" and see what you are dealing with. YOU REALLY DO NOT WANT TO DROP THE SPRING INTO THE CRANKCASE.