420 Ignition problem

[cdunn]

I have a 420c, 5 roller that I just accquired. I haven't seen it run yet. I decided to redo the ignition; points, plugs ,condensser, coil ect. I also decided to pull the distributor to check its connection with the oil pump and I noticed the slot was not lined up front to back with the outside of the engine block, even after checking more than once that no. 1 cylinder was at top of compression stroke and the SPARK mark on the flywheel was on the mark in the window. I'm thinking I need to pull the timing cover to see if the timing gear and crank shaft are properly meshed (dots on the gears lined up) If they are not = lot of work. Does anyone have any thoughts to be sure before I go furthur?

[Lavoy]

Run it first before ou get too far into it. I would bet that someone has installed the oil pump wrong at some time.
Lavoy

[cdunn]

Lavoy, You are exactly right. I went ahead and installed the points, rotary button, condenser, wires, plugs and new coil after putting the distributor back in, checking the time and setting the points in this position. After some choking, and squirting some starting fluid, that baby fired up, blew a flaming rat nest out of the exhaust and then ran good, after over twenty years of sitting up. These are some amazing little machines. Now, on to steering clutches. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Davie Sprocket]

Great to here that you got her running, i had mine run but had issues making power and getting the motor to hold rpm. What happened with mine was the points in the distributor were rusted and it was not advancing properly and I had to rebuild the distributor. After that she runs strong starts easy and hasn't given me any other issues.