How do you time a M?

Ive never had to time anything so what is the procedure? I could use instructions in simple terms, the manuel tells you have to do it but im confused with the marking the pulley and rotating the distributor...

Hey Janicholson, if you could help me like you helped with the valve adjustment instructions i would greatly appreciate it, the way you explained it was simple to understand. Id love to hear from anyone else who can help as well!! thanks guys, Anthony

Remove the plugs (easier to roll engine by hand). With your thumb in the #1 plug hole, or over the free end of a garden hose chunk to fit into the plug hole about 2' long, use the fan blades to turn the engine, (if it is a new engine this might be too difficult to turn)The A raised up rear wheel with the tractor in high gear TA ahead can be used if a helper rotates the wheel forward. Turn it till a rush of air begins to come out of the hole (not past that point). Now put a plastic soda straw into #1 plug hole down against the piston (feel for it). As you now turn the engine farther, the plastic straw will come up and out. As it stops moving, the piston will be at TDC on compression. The marks on the pulley will be aligned with the pointer for TDC. If not, move the engine back or forth to align the marks. This is the position for static timing the distributor, and the rotor should be pointing to #1 plug wire (1342 Clockwise around the distributor, 1234 from front to rear). Using a test light on the lead at the side of the distributor, with the key on, the light will be off, or on depending on where the timing is currently set. To set it accurately, the top of the distributor should be turned away from the engine until the light is off. If it is already off, the distributor top should be turned toward the engine. The exact point of correct timing is that rascally spot where the light is sputtering to be on or off. Lock the distributor hold down clamps and all is well. To assure the centrifugal advance is working, a timing light can be used to assure that the timing advances according to the book to a total advance as specified. If not, there is something amiss with the advance mechanism in the distributor housing under the breaker plate. Best of luck. Jim

It's pretty simple. By rotating the distributor you are advancing or retarding the spark. You want to use a timing light as specified by the instructions for your engine so the plug fires at the top of the power stroke at maximum compression. You can get it close by timing it with the engine off, with spark pluga out hook up the plug for #1 and hold your thumb over the plug hole. Have a helper crank the engine. The plug should fire when you feel maximum pressure against your thumb. That's the rough setting, fine tune it with the timing light aimed at the pointer on the crank pulley. Mark the pointer with white paint, it will be easier to see. Listen to the engine, it will lean out an run sweet when you hit the right spot.

like janicholson said, static time the engine, unless your timing light has an advance function, you wont time it correctly with a light. look for two marks close together on the crankshaft pulley. the first mark in the direction of rotation is tdc. that is where you want to be for a distributor ignition. there should be a single mark a ways around the pulley. if you happen to line that up with the timing pointer, then crawl under the tractor and look up in the hole at the bottom of the bell housing, you will see the grease zerk in the fly wheel to lube the pilot bearing. pretty tricky eh?

Thanks gentlemen, I really appreciate it. ~Anthony

Thanks Jim, some day ill buy you lunch for all the help you have given me, maybe at Red Power next year. ~Anthony