Just got a new distributor (OEM reman), but realized right away that it looks different from my old one. Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't remember seeing the 8 point system thing that goes under the cap. What exactly is that and what is the difference here between this new one and my old one?




Also too, one of the points on the shaft seems to be getting hung up on one of the points around the shaft, but only slightly. Like the shaft wont spin flawlessly, it will stop when the points connect, but if I turn it slightly harder it breaks free. Will this be okay?

 

It's a magnetic trigger, your old one might have had a hall-effect trigger. The pickup coil senses the change in magnetic flux as the points on the reluctor pass the points on the stator. It's probably not actually touching, just the magnetic attraction is making it "stick".

 

Actually, your old one was EXACTLY the same.

It might have had a little sheet metal cover over the "teeth", though; which of course makes it look alot different.

 

Sofa's right. And that slight "notchyness" is from the points of the magnet attracting eachother as they pass closely, not physical binding.

At least there SHOULDN'T be physical contact between the points. If there is you have to adjust it out by loosening the 3 screws that hold the
"circle of points" in place (the 3 right on the top), and adjusting it to stop any physical contact.

DO NOT do this unless you are sure there's contact. This is a nightmarishly touchy adjustment. I've done it a couple times myself and it usually takes me half an hour to get it right after several dozen failed attempts.

 

You guys were right there was just a cover over it. It seems to be pretty much the same now. And I looked closely at the light and saw that there really isnt any contact, so I guess it is just the magnetic attraction.

Thanks for the info!