Distributor Lubrication

[Dodgefran]

I have a 30-40's distributor and was trying to find what type/name of grease was used in the cup on the side to grease the shaft. The numbers are IGS-4010-1 12R 040916. Thanks

[Niel Hoback]

I believe you're supposed to put a few drops of oil in there. Motor oil should do.

[TodFitch]

I've always assumed that is should be cup grease. And while you can still buy grease cups new, I really have never found a source for old fashioned cup grease so I use chassis grease.

Looks like event the people with expensive cars wonder the same thing: http://www.packardclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=418

[Niel Hoback]

From the Mopar manual, 5-10 drops of light engine oil every 1000 miles. also 2-3 drops of oil under the rotor on the felt wick. Stay away from the points.

[TodFitch]

I guess I was mis-reading the question. Probably because my '33 distributor has a grease cup on the side rather than an oil cup. Something like:

In the old days there was a very stiff bodied grease called "cup grease" that you filled this cup with. And for my distributor you are supposed to turn the cap on the cup once every 500 miles to force some of the grease in the grease cup into the distributor bearings.

Later distributors went to oil cups like

So I guess until Dodgefran clarifies which he was referring to I'll sit out of further commenting in this thread.

[desoto1939]

In the style that has the flip up style cup then you can use some motor oil.

With the screw in style then use some good old bearing grease.

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Rusty O'Toole]

If you are not familiar with the old fashioned grease cups, you take the cap off and fill it with grease. When you put it back on tighten it snug and this pressurizes the grease. Every 500 miles tighten it up, it will take about 1/4 turn. When the cap bottoms out take it off and fill up again (after 5000 or 10000 miles). You don't have to tighten very much just till it is snug. In the old days all kinds of industrial machines used this style of greaser.

[Dodgefran]

Sorry about that. Mine has a screw on cap located on the side. I have a few other distributors with one of each type of "cup"that was mentioned. Thanks for this education.