Distributor ground wire

[RonR]

Folks.

Is there a way to replace the distributor ground wire that is attached to the moving contact breaker plate at the pin that rides in the contact breaker base plate?

Thanks.
Ron

 

[steveg]

The ground wire is available from Moss: PN 153-645
It's made of extra-fine-stranded wire so it won't either influence the advance/retard of the breaker plate or break due to fatigue.
The wire to the post is hot.
Here's where the ground wire goes:

 

[RonR]

Steve,

On the distributor I have, the wrie is somewhat permanently attached to the under the pin on the moving contact breaker plate. My question is, how is the wire replaced without damaging the pin that is part of the breaker plate?

 

[CraigC]

Ron, I took a look at one of my spare 4-cylinder distributors. You are correct that the breaker plate end is pretty much permanently attached. The eyelet on the wire is placed around a short cylindrical protrusion from the plate and then the protrusion is staked in a cross pattern to secure the eyelet. Can I assume your wire is actually broken, not just missing the insulation? If not broken, I would be inclined to leave it alone. Before attempting replacement, I would contact one of the Lucas distributor specialists to see if a new breaker plate w/wire attached is available. Although I have never used either of these businesses, I bookmarked them sometime back, just in case. https://www.distributordoctor.com/
https://www.advanceddistributors.com/. I know that at least one of them lists a new wire for a reasonable price.

I would hazard that there are only two safe ways to go about removal/replacement. First step, regardless, would be removing the breaker plate from the distributor so the process can be carried out at the workbench.

My first approach would be to pry back the tabs on the eyelet that secure it to the wire. If it is possible to remove the wire from the eyelet, I would trim the new wire to the appropriate length and re-crimp the eyelet.

The other method would involve trying to unstake the wire using a pair of needle nose pliers with tips that are in very good condition. Just try to squeeze gently across two of the 1/4 segments left by the staking process. Alternate between the two pairs, stopping as soon as the eyelet is free. Attach the new wire by restaking. Just be careful as you don't want to break off any of the protrusion on breaker plate.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[Keoke]

Folks.

Is there a way to replace the distributor ground wire that is attached to the moving contact breaker plate at the pin that rides in the contact breaker base plate?



Thanks.
Ron

Simply cut the old wire out do not attempt to remove it's end connections . Now solder in a new wire and that's the end of it.

 

[vette]

I agree it is a delicate process. I too was in this position to decide if it was worth it to replace. Craig has some very good suggestions. But he is also correct that if the wire strands are not broken and just the insulation is falling apart. Then just clean off the shredded insulation and leave the bare wire in place. This wire is a ground wire and as all the metal near it is also ground it does no harm if it touches anything, as long as it doesn't touch the hot terminal for the points lead. The connection of the wire to the base plate is a very very secure connection and you don't want to risk this connection coming loose. Although having said that, I believe the wire is a redundancy as the base plate will be grounded thru its contact with the distributor body. But not a consistant, reliable, electrical connection. As said earlier, to work on replacing this connection it is prudent to take the distributor apart to work on the base plate on the bench. I believe on the bench you could fasten the wire with a small screw and nut and I might even peen the screw and nut with a large hammer and a firm metal backing. I know it has been suggested to solder it. This too should be performed on the bench as I believe with the average home soldering equipment that there is a good risk of producing a "Cold" solder joint that could fail. Well, just my 2 cents worth. Dave.

 

[RonR]

I am waiting to hear back from Advance Distributors on whether or not their new plates will work with the distributor I have.

The existing wire is partially pulled out of the free end of the wire that attaches to the distributor body. Perhaps simply cutting it off and recrimping it to a new terminal end is my best option.

Thanks for all the advce.

 

[RestoreThemAll]

Moss offers this.
https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=38694

Wouldn't that work?

 

[RonR]

Dale, I have the Moss part.

I have a new ground wire from Moss.

The problem is, at least on a 4 cylinder distributor, one end of the wire is somewhat permanently attached, with the metal terminal end under the end of the pin in the contact breaker plate. The end of the pin has been spread out in a cross hatch pattern to secure the pin to the plate. It is not a rivit, but a 3/8-inch long pin with a groove near the end for the base contact breaker plate to ride in.

The question is how does one remove the old ground wire without damaging the pin?

Update: This is day 2 without Advance Distributors returning my phone call.