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Dear All,

When disassembling my replacement distributor for the 32 900, I found a fiber shim washer below the plate that holds centrifugal advance weights. unfortunately, it broke in two when I picked it up.

It is ID 0.5", OD 0.875", Thickness 0.020"

I have looked for such a washer at SmallParts.com, McMaster, and MSC. I can find steel or aluminum washers that are close, though the OD is usually 0.75 or 1", not 7/8". I cannot find an exact match, and I can't find a fiber washer that is even close.

Anyone have any idea of where to look? Would it be OK to use brass or steel instead of fiber? If I can use brass I can make my own from shim stock.

Tom

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I forgot, I am also looking for hinge pins that retain the distributor cap clamps. They are 1" L x 0.089" Dia and they are hollow.

I am sure someone carries them, but I have no idea what they are officially called, so my searches have come up nil.

A proper name for the item would be great.

Thanks,

Tom

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From someone who can't be trusted to really know but operates on gut hunches, would a nylon washer or mylar washer work? Like at Ace Hardware?

The benefit of this comment is that someone who knows will rush in to spare you a disaster...and you'll get your answer.

There are several places that sell various grade brown phenolic sheets in .020 thickness although it appears most have fairly high minimum orders. Not knowing the purpose of the shim or if it takes motion, it's hard to guess if fishpaper would work. That is a very hard resin bonded compressed and smooth paper like material used in electrical insulation. More flexible than the phenolic and not too terrible to cut. Washers are made from it but not sure how moisture resistant it would be--although it is used inside electrical oil filled transformers. McMaster carries it in small size .020 sheet.mcmaster.com/#fishpaper/=cj5im6

Maybe tubular rivet on the pin name.

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I was hoping to find them already manufactured. But I guess I will try to find some thin stock phenolic sheets. Thanks for the idea.

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It does take motion, the motion of the centrifugal advance plate, so I don't think fishpaper will work.

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Thanks, I will try that!

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Thanks for the help!

Tom, do you suppose a thrust washer from a starter might work? I seem to recall that some starters used a thin fiber washer. Ask Texas Alternator Starter Service, they may have a drawer full of them.

(o{I}o)

John,

That is a great idea! I will drop by there tomorrow on my way to work.

Thanks,

Tom

p.s. Any bright ideas about the pin? No tubular rivets that I can find will work.

Tom,

A few potential places to search.

Tubular Rivets:

hansonrivet.com/w02.htm

rivetsinstock.com/semi-tubular-rivets.htm?gclid=CNf0gtyVkakCFYFM4Aod8lvNqg

njrivet.com/

Paper Fiber Gasket Material:

mcmaster.com/#paper-gaskets/=cjcpjq

phelpsweb.com/phel3_13.htm

gasketing.net/JM_gasketmaterial.htm

allstategasket.com/info_gasket_material.asp

Regards.

Dave

Tom, you asked if I had any bright ideas. Well, here is one, but it is probably about a 15W rated one. Large catalog binders use a fastener that looks like your tubular rivet. Actually they are in two pieces one is like a nut and the other is like a bolt. Screw together binder posts I believe they are called. If all else fails, Office Depot, Breed & Co. ...

(o{I}o)

Dave and John,

I have already checked with Hanson Rivets and JC Rivets, as well as MSC and McMaster. Any rivet of the correct width is far to short. As for catalog binding pins, they are long enough but not thin enough (0.09"). I did, however, find some long thin machine screws (2-56 x 1") at smallparts.com that I think will work. I will update this thread when I find a solution.

Thanks again,

Tom