cherokee's distrubtor won't rotate.

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tonexj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

windsor, ca

• Oct 25, 2009

• #1

just bought my 3rd cherokee, a 93'. cranks fine has fuel at the rail but it won't spark i pulled the cap off and the rotor won't spin when cranking does this mean bad distributor or one of those other many ignition problems with this thing?

edit: nevermind the gear is stripped, new drive gear!

 

Last edited: Oct 25, 2009

old_man

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Loveland, Colorado

• Oct 25, 2009

• #2

My first question is why. This is pretty rare. At the least you need to change the oil and filter a couple of times to help get the metal out of the system. Inspect the gear on the cam. If it is messed up, you are simply going to wear out the new gear.

Make sure the bushings in the distributor are keeping the shaft caged with little slop.

 

Matthew Currie

NAXJA Member #760

Location

Vermont, land of big clay

• Oct 25, 2009

• #3

I suggest that before you go too far with this you get a big screwdriver and try rotating the oil pump. If the oil pump is seized or jammed, then you'll just strip another gear.

 

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tonexj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

windsor, ca

• Oct 26, 2009

• #4

yeah i understand. the oil pump gear seems to be fine. with the new distributor i cant get it timed right it seems. i find top dead center then install the distributor with the rotor at #1 and it will not start for me. is there a trick im missing

 

C

ChiXJeff

Curmudgeon

NAXJA Member

Location

SE MN

• Oct 26, 2009

• #5

TDC on the compression stroke, not exhaust.....

 

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tonexj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

windsor, ca

• Oct 26, 2009

• #6

im aware of that. im findin tdc on the #1 cylinder then i put the distributor in with the rotor facing the #1 cap location. is this correct?

 

old_man

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Loveland, Colorado

• Oct 26, 2009

• #7

Did you check the oil pump? There is no such thing as an oil pump gear.

 

J

JJacobs

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Collins CO

• Oct 26, 2009

• #8

tonexj said:

im aware of that. im findin tdc on the #1 cylinder then i put the distributor in with the rotor facing the #1 cap location. is this correct?

Click to expand...

TDC on compression, or tdc on exhaust? These being a 4 stroke engine it matters a lot!

 

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tonexj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

windsor, ca

• Oct 26, 2009

• #9

im doing it on the damn compression stroke! ive checked the oil pump it rotates and im having trouble getting my jeep to start whilst installing this distributor. if i keep the hold down bolt out and advance the timing itll idle until the distributor pops up like it skipped a tooth even know it cant, i need some direction herre

 

Matthew Currie

NAXJA Member #760

Location

Vermont, land of big clay

• Oct 26, 2009

• #10

tonexj said:

im doing it on the damn compression stroke! ive checked the oil pump it rotates and im having trouble getting my jeep to start whilst installing this distributor. if i keep the hold down bolt out and advance the timing itll idle until the distributor pops up like it skipped a tooth even know it cant, i need some direction herre

Click to expand...

In that case advance the oil pump slot a little, and put the distributor in one tooth advanced from what you've been doing, and try it again. Don't get bogged down on where you think the rotor should point. It's approximate. If it starts now but bogs, it's probably a tooth retarded. If you're not sure where things are supposed to end up, mark where the rotor falls now, and just make sure that your next try puts it a little in advance of the mark. Remember that the rotor will turn a little as you install it, and start it accordingly.