Ignition rotor won't pull off

[poconojoe]

2003 4.3L serial # OM643729. I pulled the distributor cap but I can't get the rotor off. Shouldn't it just pull off like a regular car rotor? I tried pulling, wiggling and then prying a little. I don't want to damage anything by prying. I don't want to damage the gasket area of the distributor.
Any suggestions?

 

[Fun Times]

The rotor is usually either blue or red loctited on so you have to evenly pry it upwards the best you can....It takes a good effort to get the rotor to slide up....Plus the shaft might be rusty adding to the toughness.


This following video may help give you a visual of what you're dealing with towards the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UG512tSu0s

 

[poconojoe]

Fun Times, Thanks for the quick response. So, I guess I'll just keep prying evenly. Should I apply some heat? What if it doesn't budge? Can I break off the plastic part? Would that even help? I don't want to damage the distributor.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Yer installin' a new one, Right,..??

I just bust the ole one off with a pair of plyers,.... Grab, Squeeze, 'n Twist is usually enough,....

Donno why they glue 'em on,.... It ain't goin' anywhere,.....

 

[poconojoe]

Ayuh,..... Yer installin' a new one, Right,..??

I just bust the ole one off with a pair of plyers,.... Grab, Squeeze, 'n Twist is usually enough,....

Donno why they glue 'em on,.... It ain't goin' anywhere,.....

I was thinking of grabbing it with a pair of Channel Locks but I didn't want to force anything. OK I'll get out there tomorrow and "grab, squeeze, 'n twist the beast.
Should I use locktite on the new one? I can almost feel a need to use it since boats get beat around, unlike cars. Some people do the opposite and use dielectric grease. What do you suggest?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... I use a dab of form-a-gasket #2,....

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have never glued one back in

I have use vice grips in the past to split the rotor to remove

 

[poconojoe]

OK, got it off! I tried channel locks and vise grips but it wouldn't budge. I surgically cut away at it with a dremel and began splitting it with a screwdriver. Even with the plastic split in three it still was difficult to got it off. It fought me to the bitter end! I had no idea of the size or shape of the distributor shaft, so I had to be careful. It's all cleaned up and ready for a new sensor, rotor, cap and wires.
Given what I had to do it still wasn't the most difficult job. It was the fact I had never done this on this particular engine and that I've never had a rotor that didn't just pop off.
I want thank you guys again for the insight to get this job done.
Joe

 

[JoLin]

I just pulled both of mine a few weeks ago and went through what you did on one of them. Before you put the new one in, make sure there isn't any gunk left on the shaft. I used a scotchbrite pad to get the crap off and it took a lot of polishing before the new sensor would slide on.

 

[poconojoe]

I just pulled both of mine a few weeks ago and went through what you did on one of them. Before you put the new one in, make sure there isn't any gunk left on the shaft. I used a scotchbrite pad to get the crap off and it took a lot of polishing before the new sensor would slide on.

Thanks for your input. That's exactly what I did. I used a scotchpad with WD-40 to clean up the shaft. Haven't got the new parts yet, but I think things should come together as planned.