MTFCA Forum

I am new to Model T's. Had a 30 A, and now have a 1919 T. Trying to get it running and cannot find the correct rotor for the distributor. Attached is a top down piture of the distributor, any assistance would be appreciated. R/jim

I will try again to add attachment, R/jim

It looks like a Bosch clip on type. If you don't get a reply soon google "mtfca; Bosch rotor" This is not an off the shelf item, so you may have to do some looking. Also show a photo from the side and as much of the front as you can and put an ad in the classifieds. The later Bosch rotors will not work.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1500818359

This one is from 2015 so don't know but it does show the parts;
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1430931229

I believe it's a Bosch front plate style, not a clip-on.

If you look closely in pic #2 you can see the cantilever for the timing advance rod. This means you have the Bosch distributor front plate, not a clamp on type. Doesn’t make the parts any easier to find... but means you can order a VW 009 distributor drop in conversion from any of the parts vendors if you don’t have any luck finding original replacement parts

Most parts stores can order. NAPA likely to have in stock. Try to find one that is German made. The rotors from Brazil are not nearly as good. Thousands of VW and Porsches use this same rotor.

It is an "American Bosch" distributor not to be confused with VW and current "Bosch" distributors, parts are no compatible. There were both clip on, 600 series, and front plate model FI-513. What I don't see in the top down view is a notch on the top of the shaft to lock the rotor in place as it rotates.
Here some more links from past MTFCA
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/93802.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/157280.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1229703849
This is an option you may need to pursue http://mtfctulsa.com/Tech/distributors.htm

Send me a PM with better pictures and a few of the cap.

I have some misc spare parts.

All the Best,

Hank

I'm not too far down the road from you Jim - Longbranch - and I most likely have a rotor and it is a Bosch front plate. Drop me a note through here and I'll get back at you.

great, let me know. email gjrabb61@gmail.com. I can drop by or meet ya somewhere. Thanks R/Jim

TRDxB2 wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 20, 2019 12:34 am

It is an "American Bosch" distributor not to be confused with VW and current "Bosch" distributors, parts are no compatible. There were both clip on, 600 series, and front plate model FI-513. What I don't see in the top down view is a notch on the top of the shaft to lock the rotor in place as it rotates.
Here some more links from past MTFCA
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/93802.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/157280.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1229703849
This is an option you may need to pursue http://mtfctulsa.com/Tech/distributors.htm

It doesn't use a notch in the top of the shaft to drive the rotor. It uses a flat on the side of the shaft.

Those are nice units, I’d suggest getting it going and keep looking for spares, and pick them up when you see them. You can put me outa the Bosch distributor parts business, 2 caps, 2 rotors $100 postpaid to your door. One cap is perfect, one rotor is very nice, one cap has a small repairable damage with another rotor for your toolbox spare kit. Tmorsher@icloud.com if interested

okay, I got a front plate rotor, and the hole is too small for mine. Attached is more pictures. I am almost ready to just order a new distributor assy from MACS. any advice? I am attaching maybe better picture top down. The points don't seem to be correct, looking down on the. I am confused, any assistance is appreciated. Thanks all, R/jim

There were several different distributors available... there were with and without centrifugal advance, and also pot metal and cast iron housings. With the smaller shaft mount I would suspect that your new rotor would fit a non centrifugal advance distributor.

I just put a Bosch front plate on a motor and this is the distributor that was in it. I replaced it for now with a 009 kit from Lang’s due to a time crunch. It is pot metal housing with centrifugal advance

Kevin is correct in his assessment of the different types of distributors made by Bosch. However, all through their production run, they only used 3 different rotors as shown in the photo. The one on the left with the T contact is the one most often encountered with a "model T" distributor. The middle one is of a Jordan car only and is extremely rare. The right hand one is the rotor that was used on all other Bosch distributors for cars like Chandler, Cleveland, Dort, Dupont, Essex. Hudson, Lexington and Rickenbacker. Both the Jordan and the other most used rotors fit a 0.598 shaft with one flat for indexing. The common model T rotor with the T contact fit a 0.375 shaft with one flat. I have an ample supply of all three different types of rotors available for sale. Also attached is a photo of the correct condenser and point set. These are also available for sale, if interested send me a private email