1956century Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 (edited) Looks like my distributor is making a chirping sound. It's loudest in drive at idle, but is present at other RPM ranges as well. It's very deceiving - sounds like it's coming from behind the dash. When I push/pull on the distributor, it goes away. I tried oiling it, but it didn't seem to take any oil. Has anyone experienced this? Edited October 20, 2017 by 1956century (see edit history)
old-tank Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Look under the cap to be sure the rotor is not scraping inside. 3
Beemon Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 Plus 1 to what Willie said. If they cap isn't centered squarely on the top of the distributor and the rotor makes contact with the pins, it def makes a chirp noise. 1
1956century Posted October 10, 2017 Author Posted October 10, 2017 I had replaced the cap and rotor with an old set I had. Before I put them in, I cleaned up the contact points and coated them in a thin layer of dielectric grease. The noise went away for a few miles and then came back.
Fr. Buick Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 There is a small locating tab on the cap to locate it on the housing, fitting into a small notch. Sometimes the tab is too wide to fit well. Look for an old-stock cap to replace it.
1956century Posted October 11, 2017 Author Posted October 11, 2017 I made sure the cap was on straight. Here's a video:
Bhigdog Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 It sounds to me the "chirp" isn't a rotational noise but more of a "rattle" or vibration/looseness type noise. Are you sure the dist. clamp bolt is tight? Is something rubbing on/near the dist. Put a length of plastic tubing in your ear and use it as a steth-e-scope to isolate the sound...................Bob 1
old-tank Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 30 minutes ago, Bhigdog said: It sounds to me the "chirp" isn't a rotational noise but more of a "rattle" or vibration/looseness type noise. Are you sure the dist. clamp bolt is tight? Is something rubbing on/near the dist. Put a length of plastic tubing in your ear and use it as a steth-e-scope to isolate the sound...................Bob And I was waiting for a change in rpm to see if that changed the sound...
Bhigdog Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 3 minutes ago, old-tank said: And I was waiting for a change in rpm to see if that changed the sound... Likely would have changed, in someway, but to me the cadence is too irregular . Likely the hose trick can find the location if not the actual source..............Bob
60FlatTop Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 Sounds like a dry point cam. Just put a small dab of grease on the cam with your fingertip. Drove me nuts one time, couldn't believe how noisy a set of points can be. Bernie 1
smithbrother Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 I recall Dad alwadys took his finger to place a bit of grease on the dust cam. DON'T use SPAM hehe Wishing you well. Dale in Indy
1956century Posted October 14, 2017 Author Posted October 14, 2017 Spent a little time on the Buick today. I took the cap, points, and condenser off, then cleaned everything up a bit. I noticed pulling up on the shaft makes a chirping sound (see video). I lubed everything up and put it back together with new points (US made). Still chirps. I bumped up the idle a bit and went away for the most part. Likely going to pull the distributor next.
1956century Posted October 17, 2017 Author Posted October 17, 2017 After disassembling, cleaning, and lubricating the distributor, the chirp was still there. It turned out to be the throttle linkage. I removed it from the car, cleaned, and greased it, and now the chirp is gone. I marked the distributor before removing it. Interestingly enough, when putting it back at the same position, I had to turn it further clockwise in order to get back to 5 degrees. Not sure what's going on there - maybe cleaning the breaker plate and vac advance freed it up and changed the timing? 2
1956322 Posted October 17, 2017 Posted October 17, 2017 Oh yes I should have snapped I had an annoying chirp a couple of years ago.. Sure enough dry linkage..I had to relube it this year cause it started making a different bad noise at idle but if I lightly put my foot on the pedal it went away..lubed it up and noise free again.. I've been using 3-1 oil 2
Bhigdog Posted October 17, 2017 Posted October 17, 2017 On 10/11/2017 at 10:00 AM, Bhigdog said: It sounds to me the "chirp" isn't a rotational noise but more of a "rattle" or vibration/looseness type noise. And the winner is?...........................................
Bhigdog Posted October 17, 2017 Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, 1956century said: After disassembling, cleaning, and lubricating the distributor, the chirp was still there. It turned out to be the throttle linkage. I removed it from the car, cleaned, and greased it, and now the chirp is gone. I marked the distributor before removing it. Interestingly enough, when putting it back at the same position, I had to turn it further clockwise in order to get back to 5 degrees. Not sure what's going on there - maybe cleaning the breaker plate and vac advance freed it up and changed the timing? The timing gears aren't straight cut but are cut, for want of a better description, cut on a spiral. Sounds like you didn't allow for the "rotation" of the timing as the dist is seated in the block and the gears "spiral" into position. ..............Bob Edited October 17, 2017 by Bhigdog (see edit history) 2
Airy Cat Posted October 17, 2017 Posted October 17, 2017 Are you sure that it wasn't a little bird that was in there?
1956century Posted October 17, 2017 Author Posted October 17, 2017 3 hours ago, 1956322 said: Oh yes I should have snapped I had an annoying chirp a couple of years ago.. Sure enough dry linkage..I had to relube it this year cause it started making a different bad noise at idle but if I lightly put my foot on the pedal it went away..lubed it up and noise free again.. I've been using 3-1 oil I had the exact same symptoms. I wire brushed all the mating surfaces and put it back together with chassis grease at every joint.
1956century Posted October 17, 2017 Author Posted October 17, 2017 2 hours ago, Bhigdog said: The timing gears aren't straight cut but are cut, for want of a better description, cut on a spiral. Sounds like you didn't allow for the "rotation" of the timing as the dist is seated in the block and the gears "spiral" into position. ..............Bob It seated in the same position and engaged the oil pump shaft. Rotor was pointing in the same direction. When it came time to set the timing, it was off.
Bhigdog Posted October 17, 2017 Posted October 17, 2017 6 hours ago, 1956century said: It seated in the same position and engaged the oil pump shaft. Rotor was pointing in the same direction. When it came time to set the timing, it was off. 8 hours ago, Bhigdog said: Not sure what's going on there - maybe cleaning the breaker plate and vac advance freed it up and changed the timing? That sounds the most likely reason........................ Bob
60FlatTop Posted October 17, 2017 Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) I used to have chalk marks indicating where the distributor rotor was pointing all over the engine compartment. I think I must have been between 25 or 30 years old when I made it my strict procedure to always rotate the engine so the rotor points 90 degrees to the firewall before I remove a distributor. Great policy, the 40 years between have been much less stressful. Bernie Edited October 17, 2017 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 3
1956century Posted October 20, 2017 Author Posted October 20, 2017 Vacuum advance test for those interested: 1 1
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