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Timing marks

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Mack

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I was out in the garage last night with my 76B and thought I would check the timing, so I got out my Haynes book and my MG service manual, maybe it's just me or I wasn't looking at things right, but the Haynes manual shows the 20 degree mark on the far right tooth and the MG manual shows it as the far left tooth.... can anyone clarify this for me? Also I've seen different timing for different rpm's, is it 1/2 of one and six of the other? Or does it make a difference? I realise the need to set the timing mark for the correct rpm, for instance it might say 12 degrees at 600rpm or 13 degrees at 1500rpm MACK /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I have a 76B also. Remembering that the crank is turning clockwise (dizzy rotor anti-clockwise) the 20 degree mark should be the lowest mark (paint them with some "white out") or the 5th mark counting counter-clockwise (down).
 
hey Mack, what kind of ignition does your 76 B have, if it's the otiginal omni electronic distributor, replace it. I had nothing but trouble until i bought and installed a pertronix. Theres also a good site for info on timing at The MG Experience look up electrical and go from there. Good luck
 
I've been mucking about with the timing on my 75 (as well as air fuel ratio). Started all this cause I knew my carb was mal-adjusted by the PO. Anyway I set it to ~13 BTDC as stated in the manual. This after a new distributor, cap, points, rotor, plugs, wires, the works. Also set the points. After I knew that the ignition was sorted went on to tune the carb. Finally got it to the point where the plugs are looking the right color, maybe a tad on the rich side. At this point I noticed that the car lacked power in the mid band... 2500-3500 RPM. Hmm, that sucks... After reading a bit about performance ignitions, I got the bright Idea to advance the timing. BINGO! she now runs better than I've had her running yet. Not sure I know exactly how much advance, I don't have a dial back timing light, but enough to get the power back and no pinging (pinking whatever). Makes me realize that the specs in the manual are just guidelines.

Next step is the Pertronix and an MSD LA system.

-D.
 
Thanks for the help, I bumped the timing upto about 15 degrees, the motor "sounds" better but I won't know for sure until I can take her for a ride in the morning, that's if it stops raining up here in upstate NY, left overs of the storm down south in MS, hope any of our members in that area (and all people for that matter)are OK, my thoughts and prayers are with them. Thanks MACK
 
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