[Mgs] Distributor woes

[Douglas Shook]

Hi Simon,

Question #1:
I am not certain which model distributor you have, but is this the screw
you are referring to?
Screw, for points, 2BA X 3/8" | Moss Motors
<https://mossmotors.com/323-245-screw-for-points-2ba-x-3-8>

Question #2
No, the black wire is the feed to the coil and needs to be under the nut on
the points spring. It should contact the spring but not the stud. Ensure
that you have a good insulator on that post/stud to separate the spring
from the stud.

The screw retaining the condenser provides the ground to the condenser. Any
good mechanical connection there would suffice, but I do not know which
distributor you have.

Question #3
If you use steel screws you can use a magnetic screwdriver to hold it while
you position it to screw it in. You also can use masking tape to cover the
openings if you are afraid of dropping the screw into a crevice.

On Sat, Dec 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM Simon Matthews <simon.d.matthews at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I have already asked on a forum, but I thought that I would reach out
> on the mailing list also.
>
> I am struggling to insert the screw that holds the capacitor down in
> the distributor. There is a black wire hanging that I believe also
> needs to be fastened down with the same screw. I am replacing the
> capacitor because of poor running.
>
> The screw in my distributor has a cross-head pattern. Barney shows
> this screw and the one that holds down the contact points as the same
> screw type (2BA), but Moss shows only one screw and it has a slotted
> head. It is also considerably longer than the screw I am dealing with
> (see photos in
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/iNTC9auUAdve94G1A ). The screw that I have
> looks similar to the one in this video:
> https://youtu.be/9x51poyZLa8?t=1271
>
> The screw that I have doesn't have a good head -- the cross is a bit
> mangled. Has anyone got any suggestions on:
> 1. Is this the correct screw?
> 2. Is it correct that the screw holds down both the black wire and the
> capacitor?
> 3. Are there any tricks to getting the screw into place, without
> removing the distributor?
>
> Many thanks,
> Simon
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