Technical 8BA Flathead Finally Let Me Down

I was cruising along happily, engine running fine as always, then it wasn’t running. Just like that. My immediate thought was ignition problems, so I popped off the distributor cap and went to pull the rotor for a look-see. Well, the rotor came out, along with the distributor shaft. It sheared off above the gear, so the gear is still down there.
Is it possible to fish that gear out of there without taking everything apart? Also, I’m open to suggestions on a replacement distributor, although the old Loadomatic has worked fine for the last 8 years or so.

Thanks everyone

 

A strong magnet on a telescopic handle, maybe?

 

It looks as though it broke along the insert pin at the drive gear. Correct?
Try reinserting the shaft and fit it back in position over the pin and in the gear.
Apply down pressure and turning the shaft at the same time. That may dislodge it and at least loosen it to pull up with a heavy magnet.
Why would you want to change to a different distributor that provided good service for so many years?
Those used distributors are cheap and easy to work on. Especially since your running only one 94.

 

how would something just break like that? would it be caused by an oiling issue?

 

How easily does the rotor turn? Is it bound up? There has to be a reason it broke there.

 

I have no idea why it broke, or even how it could. Oil pressure is good, around 40 psi at cruising rpm, and 15 or so at idle. The shaft was not dry when I pulled it out. I’ll get a chance to look at it today and make sure what type it is (there are 2 different distributors for the 8BA). Then see if I can find one in good condition. Now to get that gear out: might have to wait til next week…

 

I’ve only seen pics of an 8BA, but doesn’t the distributor drop in to a cover? If so, can’t you just remove the cover and look.

 

I’m with Pete,,,,,,try it and see if you can retrieve the other piece .
I’m sure it was just a defect that finally broke after more than 70 years .
A replacement stock distributor,,,,or even just another shaft will fix it right up .

Tommy

 

Abit more work but I would pull the front cover and take a look

 

I don't like the thought of random little pieces of metal roaming around inside an engine. I'd pull the front timing cover for a look-see, maybe even drain and change the oil in case something is floating around in the pan. I had a distributor drive gear shear off one time on a slant six in a '69 Dodge van for no apparent reason. As I remember, it was a bronze gear. Replaced the gear, set the timing, and good to go. That old slant six had 300,000 on it if it had ever been cranked.

 

Curious if you are using the alloy short body distributor in a front cover designed for the full body cast iron distributor that does not have the needed lower shaft support.

 

As you know there are different timing covers (cast iron and aluminum) for the 8BA distributor to accomodate the lengths of the distributor shaft. One cover has a lower support for the extended shaft. The other does not. Read about it it here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=8BA...i57j33i160.11497j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

Always new things to learn here. Thanks guys!!

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177248

 

My distributor has the later ‘50 cast aluminum housing, so the shaft extends below the gear. This tells me that the timing cover has to be the right one or it wouldn’t fit. Good to know.

I think I’m going to dive in and remove the cover, dig out the broken stuff and check for little pieces running around trying to break other stuff. I can’t get to it until the weather turns cold (gotta make hay while the sun shines), so maybe I’ll document the process in a new thread. Might help some guys with similar problems.

Thanks for all the good suggestions!

 

The lower supported cover is obvious from the outside. The extended shaft distributor will fit the other covers if the extension has been cut off, but you'll know for sure when the cover is removed.