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Timing - I feel like an idiot even asking

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Timing light on #1
What should it read when cranking?

I've spent so much time modifying electrical circuits to get a spark this week, that I've totally lost my mind

:totally embarrassed:
 
Uh, er, I run mine at BTDC, centrifugal advance, no vacuum.
If you are running ATDC, you will need a vacuum.
 
Alan -

May be some confusion here: BTDC means "Before Top Dead Center" - Advanced.

ATDC would then mean "After Top Dead Center" - Retarded.
 
I never used a timing light in the 49 years I've owned my TR3A. I get it running and take it out to warm it up. Then I rotate the distributor till I get the fastest running RPM. Then I reset the idle back to 800 RPM or so and drive it to see how it accelerates. If it's good, I advance it a bit with the vernier on the back side of the distributor and try it again. I keep doing this till it goes better and better. I also lug it in 4th gear to see if it's "pinking" or not. If it's not pinking, I advance it a bit more and try again. At some point when it accelerates like a bat, I lug it and find it's starting to "pink", I back off on the advance and check it again for "pinking". Then I know the timing is set for the next 5 years.
 
Which is the approcah I'll take when it actually starts - only in my case I can do it with a laptop.

So 10deg BTDC is about right. Bummer.
 
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