Anyone ever replace the center electrode in a distributor cap? I have a new Mallory crab cap with a damaged center carbon electrode. Can I fix it.
Not sure about the Mallory crab cap but a typical carbon can be simply unscrewed from the spring and a new one screwed back in
Not quite the same, but I had a "Chop Saw" hat worked great until the brushes went out. I could not find direct replacements, so I thought I was S.O.L. Then I went to a LARGE, well stocked hardware store a couple of towns over, and in the "Nut and Bolt" section, they had a box with a large selection of electric motor brushes. I found some that looked a lot like the originals, but were a little large. I bought them and carefully filed them down to fit the brush holders. They are still working just fine. You may have to re-shape them a bit more than I did and maybe trim the spring, but it worked for me.
Not really sure of how it comes out, but there are replacements for HEI. https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/ignition---tune-up-16776/distributor-brush-12504/05d726ec0e59
I once jammed a ball point pen spring into my cap on the side of the road after the carbon button broke...it got me home!
So i removed mine, from a mallory cap today, that was broken off. I had to drill the center and then pick at it till it popped up enough to grab it with needle nose pliers. The carbon is 1/4” dia and just pushes into the hole on a tapered spring. I am not sure of the total length as it has been broken off. The part that is attached to the spring is 3/16”.
You should be able to find what you need at any good hardware store that stocks electric motor brushes.
Cool. I appreciate the input. I am going to fool with it a bit tomorrow and see what I can come up with. I have a couple new sbf caps to rob parts from.
I hacked apart a ford cap today. The electrode is a ball of carbon. The Mallory has similar looking crimp on the electrode, might find out tomorrow if it's a ball as well.