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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Ignition Timing

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Jimmy Lynn

05-22-2004 15:41:24




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Not being much of a mechanic can somebody tell me how to set the timing on a Ford Workmaster 641(172 cu in 4 cylinder.) I hate to ask but please be specific about about what to look for and where as I don't have a clue as where to start. Thanks in advance.




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Jerry/MT

05-22-2004 19:50:52




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 Re: Ignition Timing in reply to Jimmy Lynn, 05-22-2004 15:41:24  
Get the engine near Top Dead Center (TDC) with the distributor rotor point at the #1 plug wire terminal. Inch the engine with the starter or a big wrench on the cranksahft pulley nut to the correct timing mark. Be patient and get it right on. Take the #1 pug wire of the spark plug, put a paper clip in it and get it to a good ground. Loosen the distributor and turn on the key. Holding the plug wire about a sixteenth of an inch away from the ground, rotate the distributor slowly til you hear the pop of the spark.The point where it pops is the correct timing. Do it until you get it right. Tighten down the distributor and hook up plug wire and start it up! Check with a timing light and then check that the advance mechanism is working and your done. Hope this helps.

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txblu

05-22-2004 16:31:37




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 Re: Ignition Timing in reply to Jimmy Lynn, 05-22-2004 15:41:24  
I'm gonna get a lotta whacks for this but here it is.

If it will crank and run, loosen the lock nut on the dist and turn it cw until the engine misses; note the position. Turn it ccw until it misses; note the position. Put it in the center of the 2 positions and lock it down.

(ducking the flak)

txblu



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Bob D. (La)

05-22-2004 18:06:49




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 Re: Re: Ignition Timing in reply to txblu, 05-22-2004 16:31:37  
I agree with txblu.I was born and raised on a farm. We never owned a timing light nor would we have known how to use one. Just make the adjustments slow enough to be fairly precise and you'll never have a problem.



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txblu

05-24-2004 05:36:11




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 Re: Re: Re: Ignition Timing in reply to Bob D. (La), 05-22-2004 18:06:49  
Thank you sir. One for the christians, 0 for the lions.

Grin.

Mark



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sibby(Aus)

05-22-2004 19:17:25




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 Re: Re: Re: Ignition Timing in reply to Bob D. (La), 05-22-2004 18:06:49  
Jimmy, Get your distributor with no. 1. ready to fire on t.d.c. compression stroke, look at rotor pointing to no.1. spark plug wire on your distributor cap after you have set your points gap correctly. find your timing mark on crankshaft pully, flywheel or wherever it is,hook up a test light, one to ground, the other to movable ignition point, turn crank slowly clockwise until light comes on when points just open, if it is out with marks, adjust distributor until it lights when aligned with timing marks and points just open. txblu and Bob, i have used your method for years with no problems also, just this way is very accurate for final adjustment and i would be a fool to knock your way of doing it as it works. good luck, sibby.

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txblu

05-24-2004 05:37:17




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Ignition Timing in reply to sibby(Aus), 05-22-2004 19:17:25  
Geez. What a day. 2 for the Christians, 0 for the lions.

Mark



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RAB

05-23-2004 02:17:03




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Ignition Timing in reply to sibby(Aus), 05-22-2004 19:17:25  
There is a subtle difference with these old tractors. Many tractors had manual advance retard mechanisms in that era and the driver was able to alter the timing and note the difference. This experience was great for knowing whether the engine timings were pretty close to the right mark. A scribe mark on the magneto was used as a datum for any timing changes.
Those old engines, although having a definite timing setting ran on an entirely different fuel than today's fuels. A modern high-speed engine is a different ball game altogether, as tolerances are much, much less.
Regards, RAB

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txblu

05-24-2004 05:39:21




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Ignition Timing in reply to RAB, 05-23-2004 02:17:03  
10-4 on the centrigfugal force weights to advance timing as a function of rpm's. Never got in the way of setting timing that I know.

Thanks,

Mark



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