VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Got the Electrolock blues….again

Now that I might have my starting issue behind me, another gremlin appeared.
When I pull out the spark knob and the distributor rotates, the motion sometimes, but not always, kinks the Electrolock cable (where it enters the distributor housing) just enough to cause contact between the inner cable and that brass bushing pressed in the end . This "ground" results in a nice little spark and an immediate engine shut down !!
Could someone take a look this photo and advise what part is missing ? I'm thinking of pressing in a rubber washer or something to keep the 2 components electrically isolated.
I'd like to cobble something together to get me through the summer and have the thing re-built proper this winter. JYD…still doing these ? Ideas appreciated. Thank you.
BTW, that's a rubber bushing I have keeping the inner cable isolated from the dist housing. The condenser terminal snugs up against it tight.

From the photo it appears that you are missing a bunch of stuff between the end of the electrolock and the distributor housing. For starters, you are missing the terminal cup and all of the insulators. Might be missing other parts inside of the distributor as well.

Yep, the Junkyard Dog is still restoring electrolocks and distributors.

I figured as much. I'll send you a PM.

I received your PM and I sent you a PM in return.

Ive never used my spark advance .but that's what this joint is designed to do. \Way too many parts for a simple,switch to ground. Put the proper end cap on it .and install a piece of heat shrink tubing to prevent the grounding out.

With the setting of 18 deg. advanced it's best to use the "spark retard" to prevent starter kick back.

Must have mine setup ok. Only time I have to touch anything on the dash is first thing in the spring. She needs a bit of choke to get running. I just hit the starter and she goes. Only time I needed to be towed is when the connection at the bottom (under the brass nut) broke. With my mad machining skills that wont happen again . Not one of chevys better designs.

True. Actually, the electrolock going to the side of the distributor was "Mickey Mouse". The Chevrolet mechanics were having problems with it too...especially when it came to changing the points on a tune-up. That is one reason why Chevrolet moved the electrolock connection to the top of the coil in 1933.