The Ford Barn

PutPutBang · 06-04-2015, 09:56 AM

Engine runs much smoother when spark lever is set to full retard and is much rougher when lever is pulled towards floor and engine then 'knocks' a little. Seems lever is working backward. Any ideas, suggestions?

Marshall V. Daut · 06-04-2015, 10:01 AM

Initial timing is too far advanced. Loosen the distributor cam set screw and turn the cam a little clockwise to retard the timing. Not much, just a tweak at a time. Check after each adjustment. When the timing is too far advanced, the engine runs better as the spark lever is moved upwards to the retard position. As it is advanced by pulling the lever down, the engine will knock. Just retard the timing in small increments until you find the sweet spot for both the retarded and advanced spark lever positions. That should do it.
Marshall

Brentwood Bob · 06-04-2015, 10:01 AM

Check the timing. Look at the slack in the rotation of the rotor. Bob

Mike V. Florida · 06-04-2015, 12:09 PM

Any looseness on the rotation of the rotor must be accounted for when timing the engine.

marc hildebrant · 06-04-2015, 12:11 PM

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Check out the ignition timing in the Ford owners manual or the books by Andrews. Your timing with the lever all the way up should be 0 degrees at top dead center or with the timing pin into the detent.

The excellent information at : http://abarnyard.com/ will help.

Marc

06-04-2015, 09:56 AM	#1
PutPutBang Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 8	late '31 Model A engine, all stock Engine runs much smoother when spark lever is set to full retard and is much rougher when lever is pulled towards floor and engine then 'knocks' a little. Seems lever is working backward. Any ideas, suggestions?

06-04-2015, 10:01 AM	#2
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: late '31 Model A engine, all stock Initial timing is too far advanced. Loosen the distributor cam set screw and turn the cam a little clockwise to retard the timing. Not much, just a tweak at a time. Check after each adjustment. When the timing is too far advanced, the engine runs better as the spark lever is moved upwards to the retard position. As it is advanced by pulling the lever down, the engine will knock. Just retard the timing in small increments until you find the sweet spot for both the retarded and advanced spark lever positions. That should do it. Marshall

06-04-2015, 10:01 AM	#3
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,247	Re: late '31 Model A engine, all stock Check the timing. Look at the slack in the rotation of the rotor. Bob

06-04-2015, 12:09 PM	#4
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: late '31 Model A engine, all stock Any looseness on the rotation of the rotor must be accounted for when timing the engine. __________________ 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

06-04-2015, 12:11 PM	#5
marc hildebrant Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 1,128	Re: late '31 Model A engine, all stock Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Check out the ignition timing in the Ford owners manual or the books by Andrews. Your timing with the lever all the way up should be 0 degrees at top dead center or with the timing pin into the detent. The excellent information at : http://abarnyard.com/ will help. Marc