Timing Issue

[James Belisle]

Hi guys. So, I've been having some difficulty setting my timing. Motor is a stock super with zeniths and a br18, both recently rebuilt. Also, a new crank pulley, replaced after the old one ate a few seals. Did a full tune up (with new cap, rotor, condenser, points, plugs, and wires), but when I set the idle advance at 5*, then check it at 3000 rpm, I get a reading of well over 40*. I use the Pre Mat timing kit, and I've confirmed the reading with a different timing light, just to be sure mine wasn't a dud. I've seen the distributor run in Glenn Ring's Sun Machine. The advance is smooth going up and down, and it maxes out at 30*. Any ideas of what could be throwing it so far off?

[Ron LaDow]

James, all three set-screws tight? Distributor not moving in the clamp?

[David Jones]

Try setting the advance at 35 then see if it is still stable at that. Now check static . If it is close to 5 then call it good. If it is off by 10 then look for something being loose/not tight.

[Dick Weiss]

When tightening the distributor clamp, make sure the clamp isn't twisted or CRUSHED; There should be a small gap
between the bolt 'eyes'; I've re-shaped many clamps over the years so the clamping has a proper grip to prevent slippage!

Dick

[Ron LaDow]

Dick, he's using one of these: http://www.precisionmatters.biz/timing-kit.php
There are 3 set screws @ 120* to avoid the issues with the deformed tin parts.

[James Belisle]

Everything is snug, and the distributor doesn't move. If I set the full advance to 35*, it's retarded at idle and runs dumpy/stalls. I had the problem before installing Ron's timing kit. This is actually part of the reason I bought it. Oddly, it doesn't run hot or make any excess noise/ping with the bonkers advance.

I also, just for chuckles, measured the circumference of the new pulley, just to be sure it wasn't larger than the original. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't.

[Ron LaDow]

James, Glenn is really good, but it sure sounds like there's an "oops" here. I'd call him and explain what goes on.

[James Belisle]

That's what I thought, as well. I brought it back to him and everything checked out. He even replaced all of the consumable parts, just for good measure, but no joy. Unless there's something wrong with his machine...

Ideally, I'd swap in another distributor, but I don't have an extra.

[Bruce Smith]

James - I'd be glad to check it out on our Sun tester if you'd like to send it to me. - Bruce

[James Belisle]

Bruce, I just sent you an email to set this up.

[Vic Skirmants]

What type of timing light are you using?

[James Belisle]

I used an Innova 5568 and an Actron with an advance dial on the back.

[Vic Skirmants]

I do NOT TRUST any timing light using an advance dial. Have seen too many that are not accurate.

[Ron LaDow]

I do NOT TRUST any timing light using an advance dial. Have seen too many that are not accurate.

They are also subject to *cough* operator adjustment error....

[James Belisle]

Vic, I'm on the same page as you. This is why I used the other light, as well. I checked with both the advance functions and with them set to 0*, measuring with the timing kit index and the pulley marks. All produced the same results. To be honest, I've been trying to figure this out for weeks, and I'm out of ideas. I'm about to pack the distributor up and send it to be tested on another machine, just to see what happens...