IH 444 distributor timing & tach/dist/ gear housing

   / IH 444 distributor timing & tach/dist/ gear housing #1  

NAM107

New member
Joined
May 25, 2019
Messages
1
Tractor
International 444
I bought an IH 444 last year as a project. I've been using it frequently to mow, scrape snow, run a post hole digger, and haul firewood. I started it one day last week and found it to have a miss. While diagnosing it, I learned that the distributor was seizing up. When I removed the distributor, I found it had lost two teeth on the distributor gear. I ordered a new distributor and I'm currently impatiently waiting for it's arrival....

My question is, how can I align the gears properly without pulling the engine apart? The diagram I found from International shows setting the gears with the front of the engine apart. My second question is, what lubrication goes in the housing that holds the gears of the distributor, tach gear and cam gear? The only thing that resembles a lubricant in mine is dried, packed grease that now has two teeth from the distributor gear.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
   / IH 444 distributor timing & tach/dist/ gear housing #2  
Probably the picture you are looking at. has to do with timing the camshaft. to the crankshaft.

As far as timing your distributor, I'm assuming timing is set to fire at TDC, but you'll have to check your repair manual to get the specs on that.
but, to set the timing to TDC, roll the engine over until #1 piston comes up on compression. You should have a timing mark, either on the front crankshaft pulley, and a pointer on the front cover assembly, or a timing mark on the flywheel. Again, you'll have to check your service/repair manual for its location. Once you have it set to TDC on the compression stroke, insert the distributor with the rotor as close to the #1 position on the cap. Most are set to where #1 & #3 (top holes in the cap) are pretty level across. Looking at the Case/IH parts book, it looks to have 32 teeth on the drive. You'll just have to eyeball it, and get as close as possible, then only clamp it tight enough, so as to swivel the distributor.

Remove the #1 plug, and with the plug wire attached, place it where it will ground out on the block. Turn the ignition to the run position, then rotate the distributor, until you get a spark. You may need to swivel it back and forth a couple times, to get it pretty close to being on the nub. Tighten the clamp down on the distributor at this point, and that should be about it. That should be close enough for it to start. If you want to be exact on the timing, or the timing needs to be set at so many degrees before TDC, you can do that with a timing light, when running.

As far as lubrication in the distributor drive housing, more than likely oil slinging off the gears ahead of that provides ample lubrication. As far as the distributor shaft itself, if you look in the side of the distributor housing, between the flange that holds in place with the clamp, and the larger part where the points are contained, in that smaller part of the housing, you should see a screw in there. Those threads are 1/8" NPT, for a 1/8" NPT grease zerk to fit in there, to grease that shaft. If you look on the opposite side of that plug, before you install it, there should be a relief hole, so excess grease will go out of, and not blow the seal, contaminate the internals of the distributor. I have seen a few over the years with the plug removed, and the 1/8" zerk left in permanently. On the letter series Farmalls, it calls for that to be lubricated every 500 hours. If you have an owners manual, that info should be in there somewhere. I prefer white lithium grease for this, but to each his own.
 
   / IH 444 distributor timing & tach/dist/ gear housing #3  
Good write-up DJ..
NAM> U didn't mark the position when u took it out.??
IF it was running, that shoulda been dam close to where it needed to be..

On a side note> I had a 71' Charger that developed a miss.. when I took the distr. out, only 1/2 the pot-metal gear was there.!!!
& the only replacement gear I could find was at NAPA & it was plastic & u had to make your own hole for the dowel pin.!!
 
   / IH 444 distributor timing & tach/dist/ gear housing #4  
Good write-up DJ..
NAM> U didn't mark the position when u took it out.??
IF it was running, that shoulda been dam close to where it needed to be..

Thanks, kinda' had that in mind. Figured starting from ground zero/#1 TDC, on compression is the best way to go.
 

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