Distributor shaft play.

[Yuk]

I just changed the cap and rotor on my 1992 Nissan Sentra Classic (E16i engine) and really had to haul on the old rotor to get it off the distributor shaft. This pressure revealed a large amount of rotational play in the shaft (about 2" ). This slack is so great that when I put the new cap on and started the engine it would only run on 2 or 3 cylinders! I then took the cap on and off 4 or 5 times until I had gradually rotated the rotor enough, by hand, until the timing was approximately correct.

Is the slack/play in the distributor shaft something I can tighten or does this mean I need to replace the distributor? Where would the slack be coming from? The rotor was properly screwed onto the shaft and the timing adjustment bolts are tight with no give.

 

[Quest]

you'll have to replace your distributor with a rebuilt unit.

distributors are not known for having play in the shaft. If you do, you bet your wallet that either the shaft or bearing is worn and that is not permitted (your timing will become extremely off or unstable).

 

[1977c10phxdriver]

Quite often, the advance plate and rotor mounting plate are pressed on the shaft. Its usually a fine splined joint and they can become loose and eventually begin to slip, as your apparently did. Time for a new dist.

Mark

 

[Gary Allan]

Yes, 1977 (I'll abriviate) has to be on to the cause here. There should be on rotational shaft play. I've seen the normal weighted advance become seized ..but never what you describe. Typically when you see a shot distributor it's "runout" or lateral shaft deflection that you're seeing. This is something new for me.

 

[mechtech]

Sounds like the spring loaded mechanical advance, and would be normal.
But if you don't have it, it's distributor time.

 

[Yuk]

I took the distributor off my 1988 Sentra ( Which will now be known as "The Parts Car" ) and put it on the '92 Sentra Classic. The '92 runs much better now.

Thanks everyone for the responses

Having a parts car is great...

The best price I could find locally for a distributor was $419.00 CDN! That kind of part cost could have actually made me question the logic of fixing this beastie.