Got my friends distributor out of his car and cant even get the shaft to rotate on it...(using hands for grip, didnt' try any tools for a better grip yet)
Is it seized? or should it be this difficult to rotate the shaft/rotor?
Last time the car was running was 1 1/2 years ago

 

if you have it out of the engine and you can get it to spin with your hand it sure sounds seized to me

 

I just don't what to do....a mechanic down at a local shop just told me that its fine....should I buy a new one or throw this one back in??

 

It definitely needs to be able to spin. Is it really rusted or something? Try breaking it loose and see if it will spin freely afterwards, although I'd be wary of a distributor like that.

 

I sprayed it with penetrating oil and put it back in to see if the engine could turn it...and it did, but very very slowly. When i tried starting the engine it was like i was starting a car with a half dead battery....rotor would only move about 60 degrees before it would run out of cranking juice. I think I'll tear down the distributor and see if i can't get it to spin easier.

 

sounds safer to junk it and get another rebuilt or new unit. Sounds like the bushings are shot or something.