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Too Retarded? [Remedial Timing Question]

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10musketeer

10musketeer

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My car used to have lots of power (relatively speaking) but ran rough and wouldn't start well. I figured it was timing, and adjusted it to what I think is 10 DTDC (using not-so-DPO's previous marks) and now it idles great! Sounds nice, engine doesn't try to shake the hood off, and doesn't "burble" like it used to on deceleration. The problem is now it has no "get-up-and-go". It is very sluggish from 2000-3500k rpm and on shut down it runs on for a bit (deisels). I'm suspecting that the timing needs to be advanced. Is this correct? I'm afraid if I advance it any it will run rough again and not start well. Any thoughts?
 
Bah, play with it till your find the sweet spot, just a degree or so at a time.
 
"DTDC"?? Jack's right: Back it off a couple degrees at a time and try it. Sounds like it's dialed in too far advanced.
 
Sorry, I meant BTDC. I'll try to back it off a little more and try it. Just for my education, why do you guys think it's too far advanced? What could I expect if I go back too far?
 
It sounds from your description as if it starts a bit "too easy" and it diesels at shut-down.

"back too far" and it'll be a bugger to start and BANG thru the exhaust.

FWIW: you're close to where it should be, from the description you give. Likely within 5 or 7 degrees. And a bit o' "burble" ain't a 'bad thing'.

*wince* Hap's gonna hammer me, I just know it...
 
I agree 5 to 10 degrees to go.
 
Are you fairly sure that your advance (both vacuum and centrifical) is working freely? Sounds like it may not be.
Bill
 
"if it starts a bit "too easy" and it diesels at shut-down"

Dr. Entropy --

My car does exactly this. Are you saying I'mm too far BTDC ? Not sure of the setting -- had a friend do this fo me 2 years ago and it's driven well - just "pops" on at the pull of the starter (mine is pull start - like a lawn mower :<) and diesels (severly).

Tx-

George
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
I think you need to mess with the advance for sure. Loosen it up till it is just snug but can be turned. Start the engine, at operating temp turn the darn dizzy a bit at a time. Better, better, better, worse, back the other way a bit.

Really, it is that simple if you can get the engine running easly.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif For a stock engine that's as easy as it gets. What I meant, George; it's likely too far advanced. Back it out a bit at a time (learning to static time it is a MUCH better method BTW) and you'll find a 'sweet spot'. By "backing it out" I mean use Jack's " 'till it can be turned" clamp tension and go clockwise with the dizzy ("retarding") until it 'stumbles' then take it anti-clockwise a "scosch"...It'll get ya home.

A timing light or a static 12V timing proceedure are much more accurate for this, though.
 
I'm an orginal member of the quick and dirty school Doc.
 
Hello John,

I agree with Bill, and the most important is the mechanical or centrifugal advance. With the cap off you should be able to rotate the rotor arm back against the normal direction of rotation, i.e. there is some slack in the rotor. If not you will need to open it up and free the mechanism. Without that inbuilt advance the engine will run retarded through most of the rev range.

The specified advance is a good guide to set up but some fine tuning may be required to get the best setting. Don't do it just by swinging the distributor at idle, you must drive it. If it is too far advanced it will 'ping' as you start to accelerate, retard it until it just stops doing that.

Alec
 
I think you will even find a small knerled nut thing on the other end from the vacume part on the dizzy to make fine adjustments and it is marked A and R, advance and retard.
 
First of all, I'm sorry it's taken so long to get back to you guys. I really appreciate all of the great answers.

I retarded the timing and things have improved. I still have a little hesitation 1500-2000 RPM, but seems to run great at higher RPMs. Do you still think I need to reatard the timing a little more? I also noticed my points are worn, and so I'll replace them soon. This brings me to another question, which I'll start on another thread, to avoid hijacking my own thread /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
If points are worn, replace wires, condenser, and plugs as well. Start fresh.
 
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