Installing distributor gear

I have to install a melonized cast iron distributor gear, they are a tight fit and to avoid putting it on and off to get the alignment right any tips?

Going on a MSD TFI dist. thank you...

I would gently use a press and be prepared to drill again.

Read very carefully again just to refresh the reason for problems, might not be a bad idea, just saying.

https://www.429-460.com/t28892-magnetodistributor-gear-roll-pin-size-or-better-quality

Be sure and get it correct is all. It's not as simple as it may appear and dimensions might be off.

Randy may have some other tricks also.

Kobelco wrote:I have to install a melonized cast iron distributor gear, they are a tight fit and to avoid putting it on and off to get the alignment right any tips?

Going on a MSD TFI dist.     thank you...

Just so you know ... that hole will never line-up. Put the gear on about 75 to 110 degree from the old hole and drill a new hole through the shaft.
The gear should be located on the shaft at 4.035" from the base of the gear to the distributor seat with the shaft extended and about 4 inches with the shaft compressed.

I want to avoid drilling a new hole in shaft just in case I have to replace the Hall sensor. My idea is to hone the gear for a less press fit so I can rotate( with some force) it to line up pin holes then drill it all for 3/16 hole and use a spiral steel pin.

thoughts on this??

It needs the press fit. The roll pin is mainly for location

Kobelco wrote:I want to avoid drilling a new hole in shaft just in case I have to replace the Hall sensor.   My idea is to hone the gear for a less press fit so I can rotate( with some force) it to line up pin holes then drill it all for 3/16 hole and use a spiral steel pin.

thoughts on this??

The holes do not have a set dimension; they are all different heights and angle.
The same gear can go back in the same place but, a different gear will have a different hole location.

You do whatever you wish ...

Roll pins are not as strong as solid pins. I never tried to line up in an existing hole. Randy has it best.

The last gear I bought just had one side drilled and the fit was less than press. I lined up the hole and drilled out the back side. If I remember correctly (it’s been 15yrs) when I installed the bronze gear on it the hole lined up. But it would only line up one way I had to spin it 180° after the first attempt.

curiousgeorge wrote:The last gear I bought just had one side drilled and the fit was less than press. I lined up the hole and drilled out the back side. If I remember correctly (it’s been 15yrs) when I installed the bronze gear on it the hole lined up. But it would only line up one way I had to spin it 180° after the first attempt.

If the height was correct then it was very, VERY lucky.
After doing over a hundred gear changes, I have never had the height be the same.

I would Say One Thing Never To Do. Don't Put Antiseeze on It.

Never Done It On a Distributor Gear MySelf.

I Have Learned on Some Other Press Fit Deals With Collars and Keyways Ect. It a NoNo. It's Good For Some Things and Can Bite You in The Ass Hard on Others. I have Been There and Done That.

I may Be in a Disagreement on This or Maybe Not. I Think The Tighter The Press Fit, Within Reason The Better.

At Least if The Pin Fails it Might Buy You a Little Time to Catch It.

Also Ford Did Not Design It For Loose.