The Ford Barn

1928Pickuppain · 08-16-2010, 10:14 PM

Ok im having timing issues I just cant get it right. I get it to top top dead center with the timing pin. then make sure my timing lever is fully advanced.
then open my distributor pull rotor cap and loosen the cam turn it so that the lightest rotational movement will create a spark when it is pointing at the first cylinder then I tighten the cam and reassemble. It backfires when going down hill or decelerating. also I need to bring the spark advance all the way down to get it to run ok. It runs a little rough. What am I doing wrong?

marc hildebrant · 08-16-2010, 10:18 PM

When you set the timing, have the spark lever at the retard position, not the advanced.

Marc

Kurt in NJ · 08-16-2010, 10:21 PM

The last time I set my timing I set it with the lever in the retarded position.

Gary WA · 08-16-2010, 10:36 PM

Lever up!Make sure point cap is .018-.022,I set at .020. and rotor to cap is .025 all four

PC/SR · 08-17-2010, 01:18 AM

Time it at full retard, all the way up, as noted. If you timed it at full advance, that is the only place it will run, it is too retarded otherwise.

Mike V. Florida · 08-17-2010, 04:15 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

See Marco's site for details.

http://abarnyard.com/workshop/timing.htm

skip · 08-17-2010, 06:26 AM

"It backfires when going down hill or decelerating. also I need to bring the spark advance all the way down to get it to run ok. It runs a little rough. What am I doing wrong? "

Down hill back fire = too rich. That's a different problem. Now to the problem at hand.

Mike in Fla has it. Marco's site.

Try placing the point block that rides on the cam a little bit more towards the center of the cam. [meaning more up the hill on the cam.]

BUT FIRST SET THE POINT GAP. Can not set the timing till the gap is set.
And there is a bunch of stuff to do before you even start to do that.

Set that gap at 0.20" with a wire spark plug gaper, not a feeler flat blade. Do the 'Go'~'No Go' method. Flat feelers tend to cock sideways throwing the gap off.

And review skips 'Dinking Around With My Distributor' post.

Click on 'skip' than view all posts in the 'statistics' part, you will find the down loaded Marco's T [sp?] 'How to' do the timing from his off line site. The most important line is..."this will be the starting point". Mr. M.T. is talking about "the slightest movement will open the points", it is from there that you reset the point block again and again till it starts to move up the cam.

Eventually you will get that loping 1-3-4-2- at full retard. And set the point gap with the distributer in hand not on engine. Took me two days of dinking around to get right.

M.T. Says most people drive around with too much advancment. Opening to opening in the dist cap allows for...I forget 20 or 25 deg? That is adjustable by rotating the steering column or bending the rods.
Now that I understand all this a bit time setting only take a few minutes.

skip.

08-16-2010, 10:14 PM	#1
1928Pickuppain Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Billerica, Ma Posts: 461	timein isues Ok im having timing issues I just cant get it right. I get it to top top dead center with the timing pin. then make sure my timing lever is fully advanced. then open my distributor pull rotor cap and loosen the cam turn it so that the lightest rotational movement will create a spark when it is pointing at the first cylinder then I tighten the cam and reassemble. It backfires when going down hill or decelerating. also I need to bring the spark advance all the way down to get it to run ok. It runs a little rough. What am I doing wrong?

08-16-2010, 10:18 PM	#2
marc hildebrant Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 1,128	Re: timein isues When you set the timing, have the spark lever at the retard position, not the advanced. Marc

08-16-2010, 10:21 PM	#3
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: timein isues The last time I set my timing I set it with the lever in the retarded position.

08-16-2010, 10:36 PM	#4
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,105	Re: timein isues Lever up!Make sure point cap is .018-.022,I set at .020. and rotor to cap is .025 all four

08-17-2010, 01:18 AM	#5
PC/SR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 1,279	Re: timein isues Time it at full retard, all the way up, as noted. If you timed it at full advance, that is the only place it will run, it is too retarded otherwise.

08-17-2010, 04:15 AM	#6
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: timein isues Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) See Marco's site for details. http://abarnyard.com/workshop/timing.htm __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-17-2010, 06:26 AM	#7
skip Banned Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 408	Re: timein isues "It backfires when going down hill or decelerating. also I need to bring the spark advance all the way down to get it to run ok. It runs a little rough. What am I doing wrong? " Down hill back fire = too rich. That's a different problem. Now to the problem at hand. Mike in Fla has it. Marco's site. Try placing the point block that rides on the cam a little bit more towards the center of the cam. [meaning more up the hill on the cam.] BUT FIRST SET THE POINT GAP. Can not set the timing till the gap is set. And there is a bunch of stuff to do before you even start to do that. Set that gap at 0.20" with a wire spark plug gaper, not a feeler flat blade. Do the 'Go'~'No Go' method. Flat feelers tend to cock sideways throwing the gap off. And review skips 'Dinking Around With My Distributor' post. Click on 'skip' than view all posts in the 'statistics' part, you will find the down loaded Marco's T [sp?] 'How to' do the timing from his off line site. The most important line is..."this will be the starting point". Mr. M.T. is talking about "the slightest movement will open the points", it is from there that you reset the point block again and again till it starts to move up the cam. Eventually you will get that loping 1-3-4-2- at full retard. And set the point gap with the distributer in hand not on engine. Took me two days of dinking around to get right. M.T. Says most people drive around with too much advancment. Opening to opening in the dist cap allows for...I forget 20 or 25 deg? That is adjustable by rotating the steering column or bending the rods. Now that I understand all this a bit time setting only take a few minutes. skip. Last edited by skip; 08-17-2010 at 06:31 AM.