Ford 8N Electronic Ignition Installation Problem

[DSTX]

Local mechanic made service call to replace spark plugs, plug wires, and install Pertronix Ignitor 1244AP6 on our Ford 8N, 6V positive ground with side mount distributor. After installation and a few cranks, the whole distributor turned and seems to have cracked the timing gear cover.
Distributor was not pulled prior to ignition installation, only afterwards for troubleshooting problem, expecting to see gear at bottom of shaft shattered, but all was intact. No debris, loose parts, etc. were found in the distributor. Screws used from the kit appeared shorter than original ones.
Crack is in vicinity of distributor gear. Gear cover has vertical, raised cylindrical section that appears to conform to distributor gear and shaft, with another adjacent raised section that angles off up and right from bottom of cylindrical section.
The crack runs horizontally across narrow indentation near bottom of raised cylindrical section, then up along side of it and across top of adjacent raised section.
Photo and description of cover can also be viewed at Store, Tractor Parts section of YesterdaysTractor.com, Ford 8N Timing Gear Cover Part Number 8N6019B
All owner could find was that mechanic installed Ignitor part off center instead of centered.
Do you have any idea what could have caused the rotating magnet mechanism to jam? Could such jamming cause the gear cover to crack? If not, what could have cracked it?

 

[RalphVa]

Would help a lot to have some photos, and those reduced to a size where you don't have to pan all over to figure out what's there.

I installed an electronic ignition system (used the Hall effect, just a sensor that sensed the raised parts of the distributor cam) on a 1969 Alfa Junior. Best thing I ever did for it. The ignition points would never properly align on that distributor. The misalignment then caused pitting of the points in as little as 1,000 miles. With the electronic ignition, that little 1,300 cc engine would sit there and idle almost silently at 600 rpm.

Ralph

 

[DSTX]

http://dstall.com/Ford8N1.jpg
http://dstall.com/Ford8N2.jpg

 

[Soundguy]

hmm, dizzy turning means the top portion locked into something, lower case, advance, something.

with the parts in hand, and looking at things like the oil pump and cam gear. any damage to the cam gear?

especially important, were the governor housing or bolts removed?

 

[Soundguy]

hmm, dizzy turning means the top portion locked into something, lower case, advance, something.

with the parts in hand, and looking at things like the oil pump and cam gear. any damage to the cam gear?

especially important, were the governor housing or bolts removed?