'62 Farmall 560 Gas Timing

Hi all. Long story short, tractor was running ruff and was past due for a really good tune up. Cleaned and rebuilt carb, new coil, plugs and points. Where I made the big mistake was deciding to re-time the tractor. Now I"m pretty sure i"m out of time. Won"t start and I get backfire through the exhaust. I"ve read multiple posts on here dealing with timing and I"m STILL confused on one thing. My Timing marks go R-0,which also has a bevel there like it"s TDC.Then it goes to 10 20 30 40 -A.(with degree marks in between of course) First question is this : I"ve read many people using the thumb method to feel for compression and setting up as soon as the feel the compression. I was using a straw to see the cylinder come up. Am I letting it come up too far? Second question. And I know I should get it but I don"t. 2 degrees BTDC. Is that on the R or the A side of TDC. I read another post that said it was on the A side? When the engine turns it goes A first then degrees to TDC. So 2 degrees before TDC should be 2 degrees toward A so the engine fires before the cone lines up with TDC? Right now I have it 2 degrees toward A and I"m getting the backfire no start.

Thanks to all in A(dvance) =)

Static time it to TDC & check your plug wires. You may have mixed them up.

when your coming up on the compression stroke , you line up the timing marks to the spec be it tdc or 2 degrees btdc. then you rotate the distributer opposite of the way it normally turns with a piece of paper between the points. as soon as you can remove the paper tighten dist down and you are statically timed.
B is for before which is the same as A which is advance. got it now?

Thanks for the replies. Thanks rustyred. I got it now. I've done it so many times now I think I could do it in my sleep. Still no start. Just cranks and burps like it wants to start...but doesn't. I'm sure I have it static timed right now. Air fuel and spark....simple right? Apparently not. =)

just make sure your on the compresion stroke, and firing order is correct. if you have fuel and proper timing you will get an explosion pushing the piston down!