ON a 1954 distributor number 1112396 is an oiler wick used? My parts book list a spring and grease cup but I did not see a felt wick listed. I removed the cup and spring and if there was a wick there it had completely deteriorated.

Evidently the last year a wick was used for a 235 was 1952. A different wick was used for 216 until 1953 and many listed for 8 Cyl. models that has an actual oiler and no grease cup.
Info. is from the 1959 parts book.

Thanks Gene. My 1955 book list about the same info. Any idea what the purpose of the spring is? I don't see anything that retains it or keeps it from contacting the distributor shaft.

The spring and disc pressed the shaft againt the housing to prevent the shaft forom wobbling and changing the timing if it get worn.....A new "feature" for 1934.

Well I see no disc.Is it supposed to be attached to the spring?

It was a small hard fiber disc and prevented the metal spring from contacting the metal distribtor shaft. Probably ground up back in about 1963. Today a nylon disc would work better I would think.
I sent you a picture

There was a small fiber disc at the end of the spring that rubbed against the distributor shaft. The disc usually wore down to nothing over a period of time and then the end of the spring wore on the distributor shaft making a groove in the shaft. You are better off removing the spring and just leave the grease cup. The grease from the cup will still lubricate the distributor shaft nicely. The disc and spring really are not needed. The earlier distributors, like the 1929-32 models for example, did not use a spring or the disc.

Thanks Gene and JYD. The good news is that the grease was so hardened that the spring never contacted the shaft.

That is another problem with the spring....the grease tends to harden faster when the spring is in place since the grease doesn't flow all that well.

The grease cup is supposed to be turned down a turn or two every 1000 miles when the chassis is greased. I refill the grease cp with fresh grease every few years.