sparks comming from under distributor?
 

i have a 88 four cyl vert that i bought to fool around with and it ran really rough when i first got it but after fooling with distributor trying to time it just right i can't seem to keep it running anymore. when it does catch and it starts there is some sparks that fly out from under the distributor. i can't figure out where these are coming from. any ideas?

my best guess is that there are some teeth striped off the gear on the bottom of the shaft. you prolly shouldnt try and start it till you can get a new gear. id also try and check the camshaft for teeth missing on it to.

the bottom of the distributor shaft? i need to take out the whole dist. and check it out at the bottom? i haven't tried to start it since it happened. how do i check the camshaft for missing teeth?