Can't adjust timming

[ochretoe]

I had a duraspark put on my Bronco a few weeks ago. Yesterday I regaped my plugs to 45 and tried to reset the timming. The part of the dizzy with the bell for the vacume tube is hitting the block. All I can adjust to is 4 above tdc. I think this is why I am getting a little backfire when slowing down. Will moving the dizzy clockwise 1 tooth let me time it to 10 or 12 deg. above and not mess anything up?
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

As long as you lift and rotate the rotor and the distributor together, you'll be fine. But you can't just go one tooth, because the rotor gear and oil pump shaft are cogged differently. The vac advance on my Duraspark II is just outboard of the dipstick, and my timing is about 14 btdc.

 

[addo]

One flat on the oil pump drive shaft is 60°. That should get you in the ballpark. Gentle "jiggling" of the damper while putting in the dizzy, will ensure it all seats as desired.

If you are running any non-Ford made cam, please inspect the distributor drive gear for wear.

Regards, Adam.

 

[The Plankster Prankster]

if you want to go only 1 or 2 teeth, its not hard to pull it out and move it only that far, then slowly crank the engine to align that to the oil pump drive shaft. a good trick for the slow cranking is to push the truck in 4th gear - thats what i did.
--josh

 

[Hot 6t Falcon]

Howdy Toe

Here's another solution. Move the spark plug wires one click around the cap. My distributor cap has one spot marked "#1" which make a good reference for a starting point. If your cap isn't marked just use a permanent marker.

So ponit your finger at the #1 wire. Use the other hand to pull the distributor to where you want the vacuum advance can to be - and your pointing finger will now be pointing at the "NEW" # 1 spark plug spot. Pull the wire that comes from the #1 spark plug out of the dist. Pull the wire out of the dist. that you were pointing at and stick the #1 plug wire in that hole.

Remove and replace the wires one step ahead all the way aroung the cap.

Use your permanent marker to mark the new number one - just so you don't forget.

Good Luck

 

[ochretoe]

Howdy Toe

Here's another solution. Move the spark plug wires one click around the cap. My distributor cap has one spot marked "#1" which make a good reference for a starting point. If your cap isn't marked just use a permanent marker.

So ponit your finger at the #1 wire. Use the other hand to pull the distributor to where you want the vacuum advance can to be - and your pointing finger will now be pointing at the "NEW" # 1 spark plug spot. Pull the wire that comes from the #1 spark plug out of the dist. Pull the wire out of the dist. that you were pointing at and stick the #1 plug wire in that hole.

Remove and replace the wires one step ahead all the way aroung the cap.

Use your permanent marker to mark the new number one - just so you don't forget.

Good Luck

That may be worth a try. I'll see how it works this afternoon. Thanks.

 

[ochretoe]

Howdy Toe

Here's another solution. Move the spark plug wires one click around the cap. My distributor cap has one spot marked "#1" which make a good reference for a starting point. If your cap isn't marked just use a permanent marker.

So ponit your finger at the #1 wire. Use the other hand to pull the distributor to where you want the vacuum advance can to be - and your pointing finger will now be pointing at the "NEW" # 1 spark plug spot. Pull the wire that comes from the #1 spark plug out of the dist. Pull the wire out of the dist. that you were pointing at and stick the #1 plug wire in that hole.

Remove and replace the wires one step ahead all the way aroung the cap.

Use your permanent marker to mark the new number one - just so you don't forget.

Good Luck

Hot 6t falcon, the moving of the wires worked great. It took me two tries, I went the wrong way the first time. But after a quick redo I was able to time it like it should be. Thanks for the tip.
Steve

 

[CobraSix]

Yeah, that's what I do, I move wires around. so much easier then trying to get the tooth alignment right.

Slade

 

[james singleton]

A couple of questions. I tried starting a new engine (200c.i.) and the engine is cranking over but won't start! It is getting gas but, I have no spark from either #1 spark plug wire (only one I checked) or from the coil! Checked the coil (old coil, but working before) with an ohmmeter and the resistance was around 10,000ohms; the manual says 4,000 to 10,000 is what it should be. The reason I posted on this thread was that I have had a similar problem as "Ochretoe" with my vacuumn bisquet too close to engine block and not allowing any further advance than what the manual calls for (6 degrees BTDC). So with the engine in the top dead center position ( I could see the top of piston in the cyclinder) I lifted the distributor out of dizzy hole, and keeping the rotor pointing at the #1 spark plug wire in the top of the dizzy, I moved it several gears until it would sit back down in the dizzy hole! My neighbor doesn't think that you can do this; that it will throw off your timing; he thinks maybe that is why it won't start? Comments please! He also thinks I could be off 180 degrees and that maybe that is why I am not getting any spark?? Sorry for the long winded message; I hate to crank the engine over too many times without it starting since it is a new engine! Thanks!

 

[ochretoe]

I would think that even if the engine was 180 out you would still get spark to the #1 plug when the rotor came around. Moving the dizzy like you should be ok if #1 was at TDC and the rotor button pointed to #1. First thing I would do is check wires, coil and cap to be sure everything is ok. Then if you still do not get spark start checking all the electrical connections to the battery. make sure the basics are there and then work out the finner things. Just a guess. I'm sure one of the guru's will chime in.

 

[CobraSix]

Howdy Toe

Here's another solution. Move the spark plug wires one click around the cap. My distributor cap has one spot marked "#1" which make a good reference for a starting point. If your cap isn't marked just use a permanent marker.

So ponit your finger at the #1 wire. Use the other hand to pull the distributor to where you want the vacuum advance can to be - and your pointing finger will now be pointing at the "NEW" # 1 spark plug spot. Pull the wire that comes from the #1 spark plug out of the dist. Pull the wire out of the dist. that you were pointing at and stick the #1 plug wire in that hole.

Remove and replace the wires one step ahead all the way aroung the cap.

Use your permanent marker to mark the new number one - just so you don't forget.

Good Luck

That's what I do. I've never had much luck moving the whole assembly. TO me, it's easier to move the wires.

Slade