Questions and Answers
Mazda Distributor
Q. Dear Vincent: The situation, the truck had a terminal oil leak from a blown out front camshaft seal which I replaced. During disassembly I removed the distributor without indexing it. The truck is at TDC (1st cylinder).
I own:
- 1987, Mazda B-2000
- 2000 liter
- Manual 5 speed
- 168,000 miles
- Carb
- no ABS
- no PS no A/C
- rack and pinion
Question 1. There are two marks on the distributor shaft a dimple and a blade. Both marks are one tooth length apart. When the distributor is inserted into the housing the distributor cap MUST rotate to mesh with the gears of the camshaft. If I initially line up the dimple on the distributor shaft with the dimple on the distributor gear, and I insert the distributor into the housing the final alignment after the gears mesh is that the dimple on the gear is lined up with the blade. Is this correct? and if not, What is the correct alignment ?
Question 2. If a motor is at TDC (1st cylinder) should the blade of the rotor be aligned with the distributor cap contact for cylinder #1?
Thanks!
Sincerely,
RussellA. You are correct in what you say. One mark is to line up the distributor before installing it and it should line up with the second mark after installing.
You are also correct in that the rotor should line up with the number one tower, assuming the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke. If it is at TDC on the exhaust stroke, it will be 180 degrees out and pointing towards number four tower.
