Reply To: Ignition Timing

[Roger GrixParticipant]

Thanks David and Bernie,
I think that I am becoming a bit of an anorak over this timing issue.

Neither of you mention the extra 4 degrees of advance after setting the static timing with the pin in the flywheel. I guess that this is effectively taken care of by the adjusting until it sounds right?

I agree with all you say regarding the static timing and I am also of the old school where if it sounds right, it probably is. The problem is of course, as I intimated in my posting, that after setting up the static timing one is relying on the centrifugal and vacuum units to perform as they are supposed to in order to advance the timing as the engine speeds up and throttle openings vary.

I think that, in general, our engines are very forgiving for out of spec settings but the ignition systems were originally quite carefully designed to match and optimise the engine performance.

When my engine was rebuilt, I rebuilt the distributor with new bushes and thrust washers so that there was no play in the shaft. I tried to get new springs for the centrifugal advance but have not found any. Even Martin at Distributor Doctor could not supply any. Consequently I am not sure how well the advance complies with the curves in the manual. Hence my thoughts on using a strobe to see what happens as the engine speeds up.

I am trying to compose a short article for FP to share my findings.