Distributor with out advance???

[inairam]

I purchased a used distributor off of eBay. I went to start cleaning it and I noticed there was no advance mechanism. The seller was good about it and sent me a full refund and did not even ask for the unit back.

I like the casting so I took it apart and the shaft is very different from standard. It looks as if this distributor never had an advance.

Any idea what it was for?

[tst]

it had one, the pins are there for the weights, I had a couple with no advance but the advance plate had no pins, some one probably tossed them, maybe springs were broke or what ever, what does the bottom of the points plate look like ?, seen many tore up on the bottom where the weight parts exploded

[inairam]

Tim, there was no damage to the points plate. The shaft on the left is one piece. There are no markings on the shaft for the plate for the weights. I think it was never there.

Weren't there some gas start diesel? Could this be a distributor out of something like that would not need an advance?

I can not see why IH would build ones for a limited application and not just use the same distributor to save on inventory.

[Eugene]

Mechanical advance.

Cam lobes appear to be very sharp in the photos. Might just be the photo.

What does the body of the distributor look like? IH markings/logo?

And I don't know what is is out of.

[Jim Becker]

After the changeover from magnetos to battery ignition, the gas start Diesels had a distributor with a one-piece shaft and no centrifugal advance (some of them).

There should be a code stamped into the mounting flange. It may give a clue as to the original use.

[inairam]

part number on casting is 355(?)898r1 No making on the mounting flange.

Some better photos of the rotor end of the shaft. No place of oil whick.