Where does the spring go in the Distributor

[CJHenderson]

Where does the spring go in the Distributor? My manuals do not show it.

[ja17]

It goes on top of the gear, between the gear and distributor shaft. There is a little pocket in the top of the gear it sets into.

[CJHenderson]

Great, thanks for the help

[Leester]

For those who have installed a 123 distributor, which I plan to do, is this the spring that 123 advises to leave out? Thanks in advance.  Lee

[CJHenderson]

If that's the case maybe that is why I couldn't find it.

[roymil]

I just saw that SanDiego group focussed on 123 distributor installation this past weekend and it made me think about that distributor spring.   It wasn't completely clear and I didn't see follow up on this post so I'm wondering what is the reason not to have the spring on the 123?  I removed my -051 and installed 123 a long time ago and it works fine but just want to make sure I did it right and understand if there is risk of damage one way or the other?  thanks much

[Jonny B]

My understanding is that the spring helps to maintain tension on the bottom gear and the distributor drive. With the newer (but don't know what the change date might have been) 123 units, the issue is not as big a deal, and the spring is less important. I decided to put the spring in place.

More important is making sure the dog ears on the distributor drive fit exactly into the drive gear in the engine. There is a slight offset.