Setting Points

Was at the local garage,use to be a case dealer back in the fourties now only work on cars,Asked if one of the old guys were still around and there was. Asked him about setting the points and he said to put it in high gear and rock it till gets to setting point. Tried it and it worked great!! only had to rock it a couple times. Thought I'd pass along.

Why work so hard?? I just grab the fan and turn the engine till it is where it needs to be. By far a lot easier to do then the tire trick

Heck guess I always did it wrong, I just bumped the
starter then fine tuned the position with turning the
fan. Guess I will just have to work harder at it.

Crank on my old tractors works well for that purpose.

Never tried that one, but sounds like a winner. I do the fan with right hand while watching points. Fine adjustment does not require alot of rotation.........

Ha, next time you use the fan, check your compression also, if you have any. LOL

(quoted from post at 18:21:44 11/19/11) Ha, next time you use the fan, check your compression also, if you have any. LOL

Click to expand...

Compression really doesn't enter into the equation. Take your time. When you stop moving the pistons all the compression is gone within a second or so. All you have is the drag from the rings and valve train.

fair statement about the compression. However, notice I said "fine" adjustment. I use the hand crank to get it close, then the fan for the "fine" adjustment.

I would tend to agree that I don't want to attempt a full rotation using the fan........

I guess we;ve all used all these methods,my point was that this was a lot easier than it sounds. Esp with my C left hand on wheel and your looking right at the points really doesn't take much effort at all.Just a couple bmps.

With the magneto ignition tractors I proceed as follows.
1). Set the timing well after top dead centre
2). Crank the motor to the timing mark.
3). Gently rotate the magneto till the impulse trips.
Timing is set.
Do not set timing before top centre and rotate magneto to set timing. If there is play in the magneto drive the timing will not be set correctly.

To check timing on coil ignition.
Using a voltmeter with leads sufficiently long to reach to crank handle side of tractor. Assuming positive Earth and 6 Volt
1). Connect negative lead of 0-10 V voltmeter (NOT digital type) to the low tension side of the coil.
2). Connect positive lead of voltmeter to Earth/Ground/Chassis
3). Slowly crank motor. The voltmeter should flick from 0 to 6 volts as the pulley notch passes the timing pointer.

If the timing is out.
1). Ensure timing pointer and pulley notch are aligned.
2). Set timing after timing point. (i.e. after top dead centre)
3). Rotate distributor back (i.e. to advance timing) until voltmeter flicks.
Timing is set.
You can also use a 6V lamp instead of a voltmeter.

If you do not have a lamp or voltmeter
1). Set motor to timing point.
2). Open points and slide a cigarette paper between them.
3). Rotate distributor until the paper can just be removed without tearing it.
Again, the timing should be brought back toward the correct firing point to ensure distributor drive gears are in mesh. The cigarette paper technique will not work with impulse coupling magnetos.

Has anyone tried using a timing gun? Need a long lead and a separate twelve volt supply if not already fitted to the tractor. A bit of white chalk on the timing pointer and pulley notch… should be easy?
SadFarmall

Guess your just a weak ling I have been doing it that way for 30 plus years on cars, truck, tractors and never have had any problem. And when I say doing it for 30 plus years I am not just talking 10 machines but thousands of them since I have done it for a living off and on for them decades