Timing Light

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Mar 18, 15 10:42 am

I usually shoot for half the timing in by 2000rpm these days and the rest in at 3000 on a stock or mild engine.
On a bigger performance engine you want the lot in faster and sooner.

Powermyster · Post by **Powermyster** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:01 pm

If I had to guess I'd say a spring is missing.😱

I took the dizzy out there are no marks. It looks like I have to remove a roll pin on a plastic collar on the bottom of the dizzy to get at the weights and springs.

Powermyster · Post by **Powermyster** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:02 pm

Other side

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:15 pm

Yes, looks like a Spring is off / missing, and you are correct that you need to knock the roll pin out.

The spring means it introduces more timing quickly, but there is a chance that there will still be too much disparity between initial and total advance, and the quickest fix while the Dizzy is apart is to put a restriction plate in......

Powermyster · Post by **Powermyster** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:30 pm

Grand. I decided to take it out and have a look as the timing seemed all over the place still with vacuum off(I was sure it was off yesterday). I couldn't get near 3000 without it putting a ton of advance on, plus its backfiring

I was thinking I'm was as well to buy the complete kit (springs plate and guide) from FBO as per above link.

I couldn't see any marking on the dizzy. I presume the the distributors are the same no matter the make?? So the kit will fit all.

I might get a new cap and rotor while I'm at it, could I get this locally or am I aswell to order all together from FBO

Powermyster · Post by **Powermyster** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:31 pm

Pete would the missing spring account for the timing mark jumping around a little, I preume it would

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:38 pm

It is quite possible that it could chatter like that.

As with most things you just have to work through the problem in a logical sequence.

I am sure you will get it sorted - be sure not to put the dizzy back in so that the timing is 180 degrees out - massive backfires will result!!!

Powermyster · Post by **Powermyster** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:43 pm

I'll bring at back to TDC and make sure rotor is at cylinder 1😄

Best get ordering so..... Thanks for all the help lads.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Mar 18, 15 9:54 pm

Powermyster wrote:I'll bring at back to TDC and make sure rotor is at cylinder 1😄

Best get ordering so..... Thanks for all the help lads.

TDC #1 on COMPRESSION Stroke......

Powermyster · Post by **Powermyster** » Thu Mar 19, 15 12:06 am

Of course Pete.

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Thu Mar 19, 15 6:26 am

Sure you are all over it, but just to state the obvious... The spring needs to be the 'right' spring. - my MSD dizzy has a number of changable components.

To change the shape of the advance curve there are 2 main components - the springs and a bushing 'advance stop bushing'.
The springs ( and different combos of thereof) control the rate and the bushing controls the amount.

The point is the springs are all different ratings for different behaviours during advance - so how do you know what you have got ? All academic of course if yours is rattling around in the base - just hook it back on.

cadboy · Post by **cadboy** » Thu Mar 19, 15 6:40 am

I had similar issue with the timing and when I took the distributor a part found that one spring was missing.

Replaced and put back together, all been sorter and behaving itself.

Powermyster · Post by **Powermyster** » Thu Mar 19, 15 8:30 am

I havent fully opened it up just yet, I'm working from home today so I might have a look at lunchtime. I didn't notice any bushes in there but then it was hard to see and I had to wrap up to collect my daughter before I got a chance to try dismantle it.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Mar 19, 15 8:43 am

You don't have to knock out the roll pin. You go in from the top, it's an easy strip apart from the spring clip under the felt pad on the top of the shaft, that can be a faff...

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Mar 19, 15 8:45 am

I think you do have to knock the roll pin to insert one of Turnip's restrictors thought.....not a bad job...