washingtonMark
Member
Anyone know the procedure for timing a farmall A? Thanks.
- Thread starter washingtonMark
- Start date
Janicholson
Well-known Member
Pull #1 (Front) spark plug.
rotate the engine with a crank, or by bumping the starter, with your thumb on the spark plug hole (ignition off) when pressure pushes on your thumb, put a 7 inch piece of stiff copper wire wire in the hole and continue to turn it by hand only (fan blade or rolling the tractor in high gear forward)
when the wire is as far up as it can go. that is TDC compression.
Under the tractor there is a hole into the flywheel timing mark will be at the hole (cleaning and good light are needed, it is a marginal mark) this is to be aligned with the mark on the housing.
Now (after setting the points to .020" if distributor or .013" if mag) set the timing to break the points at that TDC location. Loosen the distributor, and rotate it CW from the rear.
Put a test light on the distributor connection, and turn the distributor CCW until the light just comes on. Lock it down and that is it. Jim
rotate the engine with a crank, or by bumping the starter, with your thumb on the spark plug hole (ignition off) when pressure pushes on your thumb, put a 7 inch piece of stiff copper wire wire in the hole and continue to turn it by hand only (fan blade or rolling the tractor in high gear forward)
when the wire is as far up as it can go. that is TDC compression.
Under the tractor there is a hole into the flywheel timing mark will be at the hole (cleaning and good light are needed, it is a marginal mark) this is to be aligned with the mark on the housing.
Now (after setting the points to .020" if distributor or .013" if mag) set the timing to break the points at that TDC location. Loosen the distributor, and rotate it CW from the rear.
Put a test light on the distributor connection, and turn the distributor CCW until the light just comes on. Lock it down and that is it. Jim
ScottyHOMeY
Well-known Member
Magneto or battery ignition?
Easier for me to shine a light in the plug hole and use the crank. A little tricky to determine the piston is at the top of the stroke and not going down. I hadn't thought of the light, might use it next time instead of looking for the spark. Don't know if it makes any difference with a distributer but the book says to rotate CCW first, then clockwise until it sparks. I would definitely do CCW first with a mag.
Janicholson
Well-known Member
Just my thinking. If it have it on TDC.
And I rotate the distributor (points adjusted)CW first, I am moving the distributor in the direction of rotor rotation. This is in the retard direction, the farther I go, the farther the dist cam must go to fire the #1 plug.
The light will be off, because the points are closed.
As I now turn it CCW the point cam follower moves toward the stationary cam lobe (which is poised at the opening point for TDC). As it touches the cam, it cracks open and the light comes on because the points have just (barely) opened.
Seems OK to me. Jim
And I rotate the distributor (points adjusted)CW first, I am moving the distributor in the direction of rotor rotation. This is in the retard direction, the farther I go, the farther the dist cam must go to fire the #1 plug.
The light will be off, because the points are closed.
As I now turn it CCW the point cam follower moves toward the stationary cam lobe (which is poised at the opening point for TDC). As it touches the cam, it cracks open and the light comes on because the points have just (barely) opened.
Seems OK to me. Jim
Jim Becker
Well-known Member
Althought the mag and battery ignition procedures are similar, the direction you rotate the magneto is the opposite the way you rotate a distributor. This is because you rotate the entire mag, including the 2:1 gear reduction whereas the BI distributor rotates with the 2:1 gears stationary.
washingtonMark
Member
Can you recommend a good manual on this? Thanks.
Jim Becker
Well-known Member
The Owner's Manual.
washingtonMark
Member
What book are you using? Thanks.
Yes, I forgot about the gears -- just that I have spent more time timing a mag than a distributer. Actually the operators manual says to turn a distributer in the direction of cam rotation first, then the other way until it sparks. I've been doing it backwards on the distributer. That may be why I usually have to time by ear after I'm done, I probably initially have it too far retarded. Oh well, the more I think I know, the less I really know.
washingtonMark
Member
I would like to buy an owners manual for the A. I am looking for a good one. Would you consider the manual you have good? If so, what is the name of it and where did you get it? I appreciate the advice. Thanks again.
Jim Becker
Well-known Member
Do a google search for Binder Books. Look on their "letter series" page.
ScottyHOMeY
Well-known Member
Which is why I asked the question in the first place.
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