• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Ignition timing - I can't get less than 12 deg at idle

Share this page

S

Swiss Toni

Member
Country flag
Offline
Hi Chaps

First post after lurking in the shadows.....

I'm hoping for some insight on setting up ignition timing on my B7T works rally rep which I purchased about a month ago. 1st classic car and really enjoying it!

Its got got fairly serious engine on triple webers and just going through things.

Today was ignition day, new wires & plug caps, coil, cap, rotor, points, condenser, plugs, basically the works.

I set the idle when warm at about 800 to 900 rpm but I can't get the timing below 12 deg. The shop manual says 6 degrees is what it should be. Then distributor is backed of as far as it will go (the advance housing is resting against the steering column and the micrometer is set at full retard.

When rpm is increased it advances to 36 degrees which is in spec.

Took it out for a road test and runs better than ever, especially at higher rpm's.

Am I missing something?

Cheers
 
Bob_Spidell

Bob_Spidell

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Usually, idle timing is spec'd at 600RPM with the vacuum advance disconnected at the carburettor (and the port plugged). If not that then maybe cam was advanced?
 
Keoke

Keoke

Great Pumpkin
Country flag
Offline
You may have not set the dwell correctly.???
 
OP
S

Swiss Toni

Member
Country flag
Offline
The vacuum advance was still connected, so that is likely the issue.

Get it it to idle at 600 rpm might be another story with the cam I have......

I'll also look at checking the dwell, though they are a fresh set of points set to 0.015" gap.

Thanks.
 
Brinkerhoff

Brinkerhoff

Jedi Knight
Offline
If you can't rotate the distributor enough to retard the timing then you can pull and reposition the distributor drive gear.
 
E

EV2239

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Ignition timing will depend on the camshaft and the distributor your engine has been fitted with. Only if it has the original cam will it be six degrees, a BJ8 is 12 I think from memory. Also, of you have a hotter than standard cam, the advance on the distributor may have been limited. This is because at peak revs, you need say 38 degrees, but perhaps 15 at tick over.

I'd advise doing some research to get the exact spec for your car before altering the timing because where it was may have been correct and only the points might have needed checking/replacing.
 
B

bob hughes

Luke Skywalker
Country flag
Offline
I am experimenting myself with the ignition timing, I have a BJ7 with a Racer Brown cam in it.

It seems that from my Healey guru, Bill Rawles, that Big Healeys can be set at 16 degrees at tick over.

It sure revs better at that setting.

:cheers:

Bob
 
J

johnea

Jedi Hopeful
Country flag
Offline
Bob, If a hotter cam has been fitted, 16 degrees is about right. The volumetric efficiency at tickover is not as good as the std. cam, that's the reason the plugs must be fired earlier. More important however is the maximum advance. Specified 36 degrees shoud not be exeeded. In fact a hotter cam gives improved volumetric efficiency at speed should need even less then that.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
E Ignition Timing Austin Healey 14
K TR2/3/3A Ignition timing questions while I'm waiting for Spring Triumph 27
Lin Ignition timing question Spridgets 2
Lin Checking static timing for a 1275 with Crane XR700 ignition Spridgets 0
K TR2/3/3A Ignition Timing? Triumph 11
D BT7 ignition timing Austin Healey 5
F TR2/3/3A Ignition Timing - Again Triumph 11
F TR2/3/3A Timing with Electronic Ignition Triumph 14
Jagguy MGB Ignition timing issues....I'm getting confused! MG 16
Lutz Kramer Ignition timing with Pertronix Ignitor and strobe light Austin Healey 67
R Ignition Timing Issue, Phase II Austin Healey 8
R Ignition Timing Issue Austin Healey 37
K TR2/3/3A Setting ignition timing to 4 degrees BTDC? Triumph 1
K TR2/3/3A Setting ignition timing at 8 degrees BTDC instead of 4? Triumph 9
sundown TR6 ignition timing Triumph 10
C Static Ignition Timing Austin Healey 1
I Bugeye 948 ignition timing help please Spridgets 8
Bruce Bowker ignition timing mark Austin Healey 5
glemon Never Assume [Ignition Timing] MG 1
MGTF1250Dave TR2/3/3A TR3 Static Timing with Pertronix Ignition Triumph 5
S TR6 Ignition timing on TR6 Triumph 3
R TR6 Ignition timing on '72 TR6 Triumph 14
T static timing with electronic ignition? Triumph 10
M Another Ignition Timing Question Austin Healey 8
AltaKnight Ignition timing Triumph 19
H Ignition timing Austin Healey 1
T MGB Static timing a MGB w/ a Crane Electronic Ignition MG 5
10musketeer Confused with starting/ignition/timing Spridgets 63
L Spitfire Ignition Timing for my Spit 1500... Triumph 12
O MGB MGB Ignition Timing MG 7
B ignition timing? Austin Healey 7
I Ignition timing help Triumph 22
D BJ 8 Ignition timing Austin Healey 5
I ignition timing n stuff Spridgets 12
P TR4/4A Ignition Timing Adjustment on a TR4A ? Triumph 13
A Rookie Ignition Timing Question - Micrometer Adj? Austin Healey 8
SCguy TR6 Ignition Timing with a timing light on a a TR6 Triumph 16
Earl TR2/3/3A TR3 Ignition Timing Triumph 8
AltaKnight TR6 TR6 ignition timing Triumph 6
B Dynamic Ignition timing BN1 Austin Healey 5
H Ignition timing and pinging Austin Healey 1
txtr3 basic ignition timing question Triumph 3
bluemiata90 TR4/4A TR4 ignition timing Triumph 6
MGTF1250Dave TR2/3/3A TR3 Ignition Timing Help Triumph 12
rovernut MGB MGB ignition timing MG 1
Y Fundamentals of ignition timing Spridgets 1
K Ignition timing woes - PLEASE HELP! Austin Healey 8
R Pertronix ignition and static timing MG 22
M How Do I Set Timing On 1990 Marelli Ignition V12 after reinstalling distributor ? Jaguar 0
R TR6 Crazy Ignition Failure in TR6 engine… Triumph 7

Similar threads

Top