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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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Farmall A mag timing

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MACE

10-08-2005 17:43:12




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I just got my A running yesterday and wonder if I should fine tune the mag timing. How would I adjust the timing for proper advance etc so on and so forth. I have never been able to find the timing mark on the flywheel BTW.

Thank You,

MACE




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Wayne Swenson

10-09-2005 07:38:18




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to MACE, 10-08-2005 17:43:12  
If you look carefully on the flywheel, you can see the TC 1-4 marks. Thay are very faint so take #1 spark plug out, put your thumb over the hole & hank crank until you find compression. Slowly bring the piston up to the top of its stroke; use a long screwdriver in the spark plug hole or piece of wire to indicate when the piston is at the top. Those marks are VERY faint so get a good light & even use a small wire brush to clean the flywheel.
Timing by ear can bet somewhat close, but just remember that the important thing is to not have it timed BEFORE top dead center. That will cause the engine to try to run backwards especially when being hand cranked. Broken wrist anyone??
Don"t be lazy; do it right. That is the old mechanic teacher in me talking.

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BobOHIO

10-08-2005 18:05:53




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to MACE, 10-08-2005 17:43:12  
MACE, How did you get it going without finding the timing mark on the flywheel? My BN was hard to see but used a little sandpaper and found it. I just timed mine by the flywheel mark then pulled mag outward from the block until it trips and set it there. Bob



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MACE

10-08-2005 18:26:55




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to BobOHIO, 10-08-2005 18:05:53  
I put my finger over the spark plug hole and bumped the starter till I felt compression. Then I eyeballed the piston till I saw it just before TDC and then installed the mag after making sure at preload it was on #1. After that she fired right up. I then adjusted the mag and found no notable difference in sound or change in rpm except for at extreme rotation, so I centered the mag with the engine running and left it alone.

MACE

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Paul in Mich

10-09-2005 18:59:25




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to MACE, 10-08-2005 18:26:55  
Mace, You are pretty close to having it correct. Those engines and the ignition systems are pretty forgiving, in that it has to be radically out of time before any noticable difference. The correct timing proceedure is to pull the coil wire and hand crank or rotate the engine until #1 piston is at TDC on compression stroke. Verify the position with the timing mark on the fly wheel. Sometimes that is hard to find due to dirt and rust, but it is there, and can be lined up with the pointer. Next, remove the 4 wire mag cap and verify the position of the rotor to the #1 wire. That should be somewhere about 1:00. If the mag has not clicked, then loosen the mag and rotate the top of the mag toward the engine block (CCW if facing from the rear), then very slowly rotate the top of the mag away from the engine block (CW) until it clicks. YOu are then in time. If the mag clicks before you reach teh TDC timing mark, loosen the mag and rotate toward the engine (CCW) then turn the engine over until you reach TDC compression stroke, then rotate the mag away from the engine until it clicks. That is the position where you will obtain maximum power even though there is a wide latitude where it will sound fine. I know that this doesn"t sound very High Tech, but those engines weren"t meant to fit into the high tech arena, but were designed to be worked on by the most average of mechanic.

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CNKS

10-08-2005 18:03:26




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to MACE, 10-08-2005 17:43:12  
You said you have it running, therefore you do not need to find the timing mark. These non-sophisticated engines can be timed by ear. Retard and advance the mag by moving the top toward and away from the block. It will run rough or show a decrease in rpm when moved too far in either direction. Stop when you have the maximum rpm. It is ok as long as it does not ping under a heavy load. Occasional pinging is ok, just as it used to be when accelerating an older car. Too much is detrimental. Some people use timing lights, but I don't have the figures for a given rpm.

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MACE

10-08-2005 18:21:54




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to CNKS, 10-08-2005 18:03:26  
I have moved the mag either way and it didn't seem to make much difference so I left it alone. It runs very well. Under a load it doesn't ping at all. I do notice a little white smoke under a load. I figure this is just normal for an engine that is being broken in as I have installed new sleeves and pistons with rings etc. She runs very good through the entire throttle range. I have noticed that my water temp guage doesn't rise in temp at all. I suspect a defective guage. I thought it should at least climb somewhat and I know that the engine is warming up to normal temps. I may need a new guage as this one was purchased used. Penny for your thoughts.

Thanks,

MACE

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CNKS

10-08-2005 19:36:37




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to MACE, 10-08-2005 18:21:54  
If your gauge is attached to the bottom radiator outlet, it isn't going to move much. Those gages were mostly used on kerosene/distillate tractors with shutters on the radiator. You started on gas, closed the shutters and waited until the gauge got to operating temperature, then switched to kerosene/distillate. With the shutters open or missing and running on gas the temperature didn't mean much, unless it was running very hot.

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MACE

10-09-2005 10:02:52




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 Re: Farmall A mag timing in reply to CNKS, 10-08-2005 19:36:37  
Thanks to everyone for the help and comments on the timing and water temps.

MACE



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