static timing

All ignition related articles
frankovy
Inactive member
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:19 pm

static timing

#1

Post by frankovy »

what am i doing wrong. cotten if your ever in toronto canada give me a call.

this is what i'm doing
#1 piston is on compression stroke
slash mark is forward of hole in engine case.
larger lobe on magneto shaft is centered on points 16thou gap on points.
magneto fully advanced.
won't start compression seems weak.
Cotten
Senior Member
Posts: 6937
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2002 2:30 am
Bikes: -
Location: Central Illinois
Has thanked: 112 times
Been thanked: 310 times

#2

Post by Cotten »

Frank!

I dream of getting out of state (once a year), much less across the border.

Did you determine the compression stroke by the front intake valve?

I seem to remember it was the small lobe that corresponds to the front cylinder, and the wide is the rear, on my Joe Hunt that I never got to enjoy.

The lobe should be just starting to open the points when advanced; if the follower is on the peak, it is advanced too far.

Good luck!

...Cotten
frankovy
Inactive member
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:19 pm

timing

#3

Post by frankovy »

ya i pulled the plug and stuck my thumb you nowhere and kicked with right hand.
frankovy
Inactive member
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:19 pm

timing

#4

Post by frankovy »

your right about the lobe then maybe i am to far advanced i set the slash to the front of the inspection hole. do you think it should be centered or
more to the rear of the hole.
fourthgear
Inactive member
Senior Member
Posts: 1401
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:54 am
Bikes: -
Location: north florida
Been thanked: 7 times

#5

Post by fourthgear »

frankovy
I'm don't know enough about Mags. to tell ya , but if you have a manual adv. circuit breaker ( distributor ) ,The timing mark is to the rear of center of hole and if you have an auto adv. system its in the middle of timing hole , kinda dead center. Of course the rear of the hole is to the rear of the motor. Some have played with where its at for diff. cams.
Cotten
Senior Member
Posts: 6937
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2002 2:30 am
Bikes: -
Location: Central Illinois
Has thanked: 112 times
Been thanked: 310 times

#6

Post by Cotten »

With any ignition, I get her started with a rough static timing and then strobe to the middle of the hole. If the motor suffers from bad gas (pinging from high compression or heavy load), then a little forward might be wise.

I also suggest using the front pushrod to determine the compression stroke, as occasionally the exhaust stroke will produce an apparent compression at the sparkplug hole.

...Cotten
frankovy
Inactive member
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:19 pm

timing

#7

Post by frankovy »

should the front push rod be unmovable at compression stroke?
fourthgear
Inactive member
Senior Member
Posts: 1401
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:54 am
Bikes: -
Location: north florida
Been thanked: 7 times

#8

Post by fourthgear »

frankovy
The reason you check with the front intake push rod is to know that you are on the intake stroke and then of course you use a plastic straw ( both plugs removed)into the spark plug hole and as you continue turning the motor over , with the straw you can feel the piston comming up on compression stroke . when its comming up ( slowly), you need to watch the timing hole for your timing mark to come by and it is real quick and easy to pass up , if you do pass it ,just go thru the same proceedure to get it again , you don't want TDC you want BTDC , I don't use a strobe type light with point type ign. , I only use static timing , now electronic ign.s are diff. I do use a strobe type light. In answer to your question , the intake valve should be completely closed on compression stroke ,depending on where the piston is at and what cam you have in there .
frankovy
Inactive member
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:19 pm

frankovy

#9

Post by frankovy »

where should the piston be at tdc. more importantly where should the piston be at btdc.

is this right tdc is just before the piston reaches the top of the cylinder compression stroke.
btdc is just past tdc please explain this may be my problem.
thanks for quick responce
frank canada
ever in ontario canada email me and come and visit not many panhead people up here i might be the only one. the rest are new h/d people.
Cotten
Senior Member
Posts: 6937
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2002 2:30 am
Bikes: -
Location: Central Illinois
Has thanked: 112 times
Been thanked: 310 times

#10

Post by Cotten »

Frank!

Just for clarity,

Please drop your front intake pushrod cover and watch the pushrod go up and down as you turn the motor through slowly. (Naturally, removing the sparkplugs makes that easier...)

As the pushrod is moving back down, then start watching in the hole for the line. At that point I like to use a mirror to see the hole as I bump the kicker with the bottom of my fist.

Static timing (meaning no strobe) gives a slightly retarded setting, so the Manual suggests putting the line slightly to the back of the hole. The middle will do fine, believe me!
Your piston will be at the proper distance before top dead center.

Then proceed to adjust your circuitbreaker.
(Naturally you will have gapped your points and made certain that your advance control linkage is in order beforehand.)

Let us know how it goes...


...Cotten
Red55FL
Member
Posts: 88
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:35 am
Bikes: 1955 FL on a 54 frame
2012 Heritage Softail Classic
Location: Inola, Oklahoma
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

#11

Post by Red55FL »

Frank
To answer your earlier question:
TDC is Top Dead Center - the piston is at the very top of it's stroke.
BTDC is Before Top Dead Center - the piston has not yet reached TDC.
The timing mark is BTDC & the spark should happen just as the crank rotates the timing mark to the center of the timing hole.

Red
frankovy
Inactive member
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:19 pm

frankovy

#12

Post by frankovy »

thanks guys everythings set for saturday morning just incase it works
i don't want to wake up my neighbor he's a little crazy but a nice guy.
your new friend in canada! eh!
frank
mbskeam
Senior Member
Posts: 1014
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2003 12:26 pm
Bikes: *
Location: Sultan, WASH
Been thanked: 6 times
Contact:

#13

Post by mbskeam »

BTDC=35deg, or 7/16 down from TDC


mbskeam
Red55FL
Member
Posts: 88
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:35 am
Bikes: 1955 FL on a 54 frame
2012 Heritage Softail Classic
Location: Inola, Oklahoma
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

#14

Post by Red55FL »

mbskeam
I know that this is a dumb question & once it is answered I will think it should have been obvious.
I have seen the "7/16 down from TDC" in reference to HD timing written several times & for the life of me I can't seem to grasp what it means.

7/16 of what?

Red
Cotten
Senior Member
Posts: 6937
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2002 2:30 am
Bikes: -
Location: Central Illinois
Has thanked: 112 times
Been thanked: 310 times

#15

Post by Cotten »

Red55Fl!

It would be more accurate to say: 7/16" before TDC

In other words, the crank is turned to where the piston is coming up and stopped 7/16" before it reaches it full travel, and the circuit breaker is then static timed at that position.

...Cotten
Post Reply

Return to “Ignition”