Timing a Farmall A

Anonymous-0 · Oct 27, 2012

Have a farmall A tractor that needs the mag taken off to have repair. Wondering how to time tractor so when repaired I can reinstall on tractor.

Thank-you

Jamie Jackson

CNKS · Oct 27, 2012

Someone will tell you, but there are numerous answers to this question in the archives.

El Toro · Oct 27, 2012

The best way without bringing No1 piston to TDC on the compression stroke is to make a sketch where your mag's rotor is pointing this is very important. THEN DON'T MOVE THE ENGINE WHILE THE MAG IS OFF. When you are ready to install the mag you rotate the rotor to the spot shown in your sketch and install the mag. You can use this procedure with your car or truck doesn't make any difference if it has 6 or 8 cylinders. Just don't move the engine and make a sketch that includes distributors too. I did that on my 1981 Mercury Cougar when I needed to replace the thermostat. The engine started right up I did have to connect the timing light to set the timing. Hal

Jim Becker · Oct 27, 2012

Remove:
1) Slowly turn the engine until you hear a click from the magneto impulse drive.
2) Remove the distributor cap and make note of where the rotor is pointing.
3) Remove the magneto (without messing up the flange gasket).

-- do whatever needs to be done to the magneto --
-- don't turn the engine --

Install:
4) Rotate the magneto BACKWARDS until the rotor points where it did in step 2.
5) Bolt the magneto back in place, using the marks on the gasket to guide the exact position.
6) Recheck the timing per standard tune-up instructions. It will already be back where it was at the start.

An alternative to using the old gasket as a guide, you could put witness marks across the magneto flange to the block before step 3.

PretendFarmer · Oct 29, 2012

I have the manual.
For the install;
1. Rotate engine to top dead center on compression stroke #1 cylinder.
2. There is a small view hole in the bottom of the bell housing. You should see "d/c 1/4". This wording can be difficult to see and it is small.
3. If you succeeded in step 2, turn the mag so that your rotor points to # 1 and bolt it up properly lining up the key way.

That's it. Any other method could yield problems.

PretendFarmer · Oct 29, 2012

(quoted from post at 15:03:58 10/29/12) I have the manual.
For the install;
1. Rotate engine to top dead center on compression stroke #1 cylinder.
2. There is a small view hole in the bottom of the bell housing. You should see "d/c 1/4". This wording can be difficult to see and it is small.
3. If you succeeded in step 2, turn the mag so that your rotor points to # 1 and bolt it up properly lining up the key way.

That's it. Any other method could yield problems.

Id also like to add that with mag ignition, if your rotor is off time you may not get any spark at all. Whoever is fixing your mag better not screw up the rotor time.

Timing a Farmall A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

CNKS

Well-known Member

El Toro

Well-known Member

Jim Becker

Well-known Member

PretendFarmer

Well-known Member

PretendFarmer

Well-known Member

Similar threads