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Timing a Cub

D

Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member
I've gotten pretty handy at coaxing tractors to start but I need a nudge on this one. First, just the facts:

57 Loboy, IH distributor. Ran before being painted. Was partially disassembled. I had the distributor out but got it back in pretty close to where it was I think. I have good spark, gas to carb, battery is new and charged. It is cold here but I have it up to around 45-50 in shop.

Engine cranks and sounds like she wants to start but eventually floods. Thinking I am off a hair on my timing maybe? With pointer and front pully lined up at #1 mark, the rotor is pointing at the #1 wire. Can I loosen the distributor and "roll it" into time somehow? Seems like I did this on the B way back when but can't seem to find my notes. If I can do this, where do I loosen it? Service manual says to "advance or retard ignition distributor" to get spark with mark lined up but is not real specific on how. Are we talking about just loosening the base?

(no worries on the plugs, they are new and replaced AFTER flooding engine)
 
You need to be on the compression stroke when you install the distributor or mag. Remove No1 plug near the radiator and hold your thumb over the plug hole while a helper slowly cranks the engine until you feel pressure against your thumb. Have the helper slowly keep cranking until that piston is a TDC on the compression stroke. Then remove the cap and see where your rotor is pointing. If you have enough clearance between the cylinder head and hood you can drop a plastic straw on top of the piston and watch that straw rise and when it quits rising your piston should be at TDC. Hal
 
firing order is 1342 make sure your cap is not cracked and it is clean and like he said tdc with compression on number 1 also look inside where your wires plug into cap make sure that is also clean
 
Yeah, you can.

Set your motor up at TDC on #1 as you know how to do. Use a test light, clip on ground and the needle on either stud on the coil. Roll/dial your distributor in to the point where the light goes on or off. That'll be your static timing.
 
You can also do it with the spark plug.

Find TDC on the compression stroke on #1 cylinder.
Put a plug in the #1 wire and ground it against the block.
Roll the distributor away from #1.
Turn on the ignition.
Roll the distributor until the spark plug fires.
 
Much appreciated guys! That is the procedure I had already worked thru but was having problems with the "how to" roll the distributor. Mostly this is new paint, bad light, and my ever decreasing ability to see. :(

On closer inspection with a bright light and a magnifier I can tell that the two bolts further up on the distributor are actually clamps. I suspect if I loosen these just a little the head of the distributor will "roll". I also found Scotty's post on this subject back in 2007 stuck in my manual for the B and that is exactly how I got it timed.

It's all coming back to me now.
 
Make sure you are timing the distributor against the TDC mark on your pulley and not the advance mark. Some pulleys have more than one mark.
 
Got that one covered! Saw the two marks and took a dive back into the manual to check which was which. Appreciate the reminder, though for sure!
 
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