Trouble Installing Pertronix Distributor - Help Please!

[Jim Ed]

I bought a Pertronix D182504 Ignitor II Distributor with Vacuum that is usually referred to as an SVDA distributor.



and I am having a problem installing it into my 1973 Beetle.

The problem is that the rubber o-ring supplied is too large to fit into the hole.

On youtube they show putting a wooden dowel on the side of it and hammering it into place.

I am considering removing the rubber o-ring and
using Permatex 81878 Ultra Copper Maximum Temperature RTV Silicone Gasket Maker in it's place.


Does anyone have any helpful solution for this besides beating on it?
TIA!

[sideshow]

Never seen one in the box IRL, but I suggest beating it in after greasing it.
The fit isn't that critical so experimenting with over the counter random o-rings is also sane, after all if it leaks it will take lots of time to wick up/out enough oil disaster can be avoided. RTV should just make a mess and/or make it impossible to remove or adjust.

[doc]

Don"t use RTV. Surely oring will go with lots of oil, persuasion and maybe a little very careful "poking" at the edge of the gasket right where it is about to go in the block. Pertronix has been doing this a long time. Hard to believe they supply a gasket that won't go. So go back, get frustrated, try again. My 2 cents.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Never seen one in the box IRL, but I suggest beating it in after greasing it.
The fit isn't that critical so experimenting with over the counter random o-rings is also sane, after all if it leaks it will take lots of time to wick up/out enough oil disaster can be avoided. RTV should just make a mess and/or make it impossible to remove or adjust.

I agree here. You could have "tolerance buildup" or just a bad/out of tolerance "O-ring" like sideshow said. Do do some O-ring shopping or just call Pertronix to see what they suggest. I haven't talked to them for a loooong time but they were nice and helpful when I did.

Don't use force to install the distributor or don't use too much force on the "O-rings"; be gentle like Doc said as other problems could happen. O-rings like to be used correctly but not forced to do it .

[FJCamper]

We've had the "no fit no way" distributor O-rings and found when you get one just sand or file it gently all the way around to reduce the diameter and lube it and it will go down.

We've some that were so tight a fit we were beating the distributors to death trying to pound them in. Stubborn little varmints.