I was doing some work on one of my RXs the other day and had some trouble removing the ignition rotor set screw.  After bumping the engine 180 degrees I found a better screwdriver and a better angle and was able to remove it.  However, when I went to put the new rotor back on I could not get the set screw to thread back in to save my life.  Upon closer inspection I noticed the set screw's threads were full of distributor shaft... Somehow this little screw had pulled the threads out of the distributor shaft...

So I turn to you folks, what do I do?  Searching turned up nothing, but this can't be the first time this has happened?  The fix should be simple, re-tap the disty shaft or use a self tapping screw, but does anyone have a recipe they'd like to share?

Thanks in advance!

Edited June 25, 20196 yr by carfreak85

My thought is to use the next size up screw with the same fine thread. You may need to drill out the hole in the rotor cap. 

Or EJ it, “perfect” excuse  

Cheers 

Bennie

i'd install another distributor and keep that one as a back up. ;

or repair the threads with a heli-coil type solution. 

I'd probably go up 1 screw size. Get a proper tap to cut new threads.

They do make helicoils for those tiny screws, just don't think I'd trust them in that application. 

I do have a spare RX to burgle a distributor off of, so I guess I'll start there, if the spare looks serviceable.  I still can't believe I stripped the distributor shaft with a ~M5 screw...

Strip down the distrib to a bare shaft, fill stripped hole with silver braze on low flame. MAPP gas works best.

https://www.amazon.com/Harris-Safety-Silv-Silver-Solder-Brazing/dp/B0713Y6V2F/ref=pd_cp_469_1?pd_rd_w=dDcKR&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=PG9KRVHQ4X65KNR3N839&pd_rd_r=78b87253-97b1-11e9-9c69-1d3c8f2acdb3&pd_rd_wg=iyhgk&pd_rd_i=B0713Y6V2F&psc=1&refRID=PG9KRVHQ4X65KNR3N839

Drill & tap new threads in a drill press to make sure hole is square to shaft & where you want it.

Edited June 26, 20196 yr by czny

I ended up digging through my spare hardware and found a short M4 (M5, maybe?) that grabs the distributor shaft and holds tight.  So we're back on the road (with a new-found coolant leak )