Dist drive pinion gear

[radioman]

I think my dist drive gear is one notch off. When I rotate the dist counter clockwise, a projection on the dist body gets in the way of the clamp tightening nut....to the point that I lose some adjustment parameter because I can't tighten the nut. I need this space to try to get the damn 34PICT3 to operate with my OEM dist. Any easy way to lift the drive gear and slip it clockwise one gear? Must I have the special tool ($20) to do this??
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It's a Southern Thing, 73, stock.
Bill

[edgy]

It would be easier to just move the plug wires one spot and time accordingly. You can pull out the drive gear with small spreader pliers but it might be a bit hard to pull. Suggest the plug wire trick. It really isn't critical where the distributer actaully sits.
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62 Single Cab (Work Truck)
63 Bungartz Tractor VW powered

[radioman]

Thanks! I hadn't thought of that easy fix. And come to think of it, the "off center slot index" (whatever its called) does appear to be relatively in the right position as I look in the hole. I'll bet that somewhere along the line the wires were moved in the dist cap. I'll let you know how this works.
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It's a Southern Thing, 73, stock.
Bill

[thinghunter]

That's probably because on most VW dist #1 is the closest to the fan belt but as far as I can find out on the stock Thing dist that is #4. I used to have mine in the wrong place too but after researching it everything seems to support how I have it now.

[radioman]

After my nap today I went out and tried to "see what I was looking at" as John Muir wrote. It dawned on me that the problem was the aftermarket clamp. I took the disty out, removed the clamp, and readjusted (flattened) the clamp area, which moved the nut away from the Disty and to the right toward the fuel pump....just a bit.. Reinstalled and now I have clearance to reach the tightening nut. I apologize for not seeing this fix before. I was not "seeing what I was looking at"! Thanks to Edgy...I would not have fixed this issue without your help.
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It's a Southern Thing, 73, stock.
Bill

[edgy]

I've made a lot of dumb mistakes. No reason for us both to do that. It is called experience! The dumber the mistake, the better the experience. Glad you didn't go the difficult route.
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62 Single Cab (Work Truck)
63 Bungartz Tractor VW powered

[radioman]

Thanks again. I believe the obvious is usually the first overlooked! Thanks again
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It's a Southern Thing, 73, stock.
Bill