On my 1998 900, the exhaust camshaft drives the distributor by means
of a "drive dog" on the distributor shaft. I think this is probably
the same on later models also. The drive dog has a spring-like coil
around it which does not seem to serve any purpose, unless it is to
prevent it from falling into the valve openings in the event of a
breakage.
Does anybody know what the purpose of the coil spring is? Also, if the
drive dog breaks, would I be correct in assuming that a new
distributor unit is needed?
