Distributor question

[Dale Finch]

[Scrivet]

.......... There has been a discussion as to why IH did not leave a zerk fitting in there...not sure if a consensus was reached.

Proper amount of grease at the correct service interval is important. This is not a location for "pump until you see the grease coming out" as is the case with every other fitting on the Cub. Having a fitting there all the time leads to it being greased too frequently with too much grease. Having the plug there, removing it, installing the fitting, greasing it, removing the fitting, and reinstalling the plug makes it a less frequent job and makes one think about what you're doing instead of mindlessly overpumping the grease gun.

[Dale Finch]

I agree with that.

Sometimes I wonder about the PTO Grease fitting, too. Since there is no visible grease exit, it's hard to tell just how much to pump. Seems like extra grease would be pushed into differential housing where it gets mixed with gear oil...or gets pushed out the PTO Shaft Seal?

[Jim in SC]

Dale and Stan - yep, the zerk size is 1/4" - found it at Tractor Supply - I'm going to replace the plugs with the zerks and leave them in permanently. Dale, I read through the thread you referred to, and I can't see why one wouldn't leave them in. I'm pretty sure that IH would have (maybe they did?) put out some sort of update or product improvement memo on this at some point. It just makes sense.

Once I finish up with my rebuild, I'll put a picture or two on this thread - like I said earlier, Dale's pictures inspired me.

[Dale Finch]

We want to see those photos showing your progress...good luck, and have fun!
I think I did leave a zerk in one of my cub distributors...too lazy to take it back out!

[Scrivet]

This grease fitting in the distributor thing got me to thinking. I took a look at what exactly the manual says. Randomly opened a 1955 manual in the Owner's Manual section. It says to "Remove the grease plugs and insert lubrication fittings."
In neither the lubrication section, or in the referenced maintenance section, does it tell you to take the fittings out and reinstall the plugs. I find this very odd in that practically every other lubrication procedure tells you to remove the plug, perform the lubrication, then reinstall the plug.
Something for the Correct Police to watch for; It seems to me that a Cub with the plugs in hasn't been maintained "by the book" or is less than six months old. Unless it's restored "exactly the way it came from the factory" I guess.

......Sometimes I wonder about the PTO Grease fitting, too. Since there is no visible grease exit, it's hard to tell just how much to pump. Seems like extra grease would be pushed into differential housing where it gets mixed with gear oil...or gets pushed out the PTO Shaft Seal?

Hopefully you don't lay awake at night wondering about that PTO grease fitting. The manual says two or three strokes on the PTO shaft. Which I didn't know on my first Cub and I applied 20 or 30 strokes (at least) trying to get it to show somewhere. Well, I finally found it when we had to get into the rear end for a PTO shifter repair a few months later. :shock

[Jim in SC]

I finally got the distributor done and re-assembled. Took this long because I had to wait on two parts (the bakelite dust cover and the insulator to the coil connection were either cracked or had chips missing). With the new parts in hand, I put it together this morning. The interior really was in pretty good shape - the springs, etc. were rust and dust free and I very lightly cleaned and lubed them with 3-1 oil, then I pumped grease into the zerk on the shaft until it came out the small hole on the back side (thanks Dale!) and rotated the shaft a few times to work it in. I'll be leaving the zerk fitting installed.

Put in a new set of points and condenser and there it is. Thanks to all for their advice and to Dale for the pictures. Here are a few photos of my final product, before installation on the H and setting the point gap. And a Merry Christmas to all! Jim

[Dale Finch]

Good job!!

[Jim in SC]

Thanks!

Later today I installed it back on the H and went to set the points using the had crank. Hmmm. I've only had this tractor since last February and never tried to use the hand crank. Well. Found out the starting crank pin was sheared off. I drilled it out okay and gave the crank a try. Hmmm. Seems that it had a bit of rust on the return spring, so much so that I had to hit it with PB Blaster, heat, and a big hammer. Got that worked out finally, but it's always something with these old tractors, isn't it? Gotta love it!

[Scrivet]

The hand crank mechanism is definitely something that needs used on occasion just so it stays limber for when you actually need it.

[Jim in SC]

The hand crank mechanism is definitely something that needs used on occasion just so it stays limber for when you actually need it.

Yep. I think mine had about 60 years of SC mud caked around it. All is good now. Gotta replace that pin I drilled out though.

[Scrivet]

The hand crank mechanism is definitely something that needs used on occasion just so it stays limber for when you actually need it.

Yep. I think mine had about 60 years of SC mud caked around it. All is good now. Gotta replace that pin I drilled out though.

Get something hard. I see to many with a bolt that fits but is always bent.

[Jim in SC]

I'm trying a grade 5 bolt, cut to size and cleaned up. If it bends, I'll go with a grade 8. Thanks!