I have a stock distributor pulled from a parts car. I cleaned it up and it looks pretty good. However, while spinning it to make sure it spun freely, it started sticking. Then a small "pin" fell out and now it spins freely.

The "pin" is about 1/4" long, maybe 1/8" in diameter and has a head (like a nail) on one end. It is also knurled. It's real small.

Where might this pin have come from? I didn't pull the shaft out or remove the breaker plate (if that's what it's called). All I removed for cleaning was the points and condenser, and the vacuum canister.

Lastly, I have a ProComp HEI distributor that I bought not realizing it would not clear my intake, anybody want to buy it? It is new and comes with the pigtail to hook it up. 50,000 volts. PM if interested.

 

I would remove the breaker plate now and check the pivots and just to make sure there isn't any other "stuff" in there.

 

i can't think of a pin inside the distributor, so I'd as well take the braker palte off to check.
Maybe it just fell in there in storage from the previous owner or anything.

when you have the braker plate off, make sure the mechanical advance works fine. the metal wights should be pulled back by the springs and move freely. maybe the pin you found is for holding the springs and broke off. check the prin if it looks like it's broken on one side (sheered)

 

theonly pin i can think of is the one that holds that gear on the bottom

 

Thanks for the input. The pin doesn't appear to be sheared, in fact it is kind of tapered at the very tip. I'd put up a picture but it is so small that it is almost impossible to get a good one.

I'll try taking off the breaker plate this weekend and see what I come up with.

Thanks guys! If anyone else has any ideas, let me know.