Setting timing on 1952 Pan

[oldman]

I'm a little new to panhead timing. I got the distributor out and have no idea how to get it back in to the right spot or tooth. What's the trick here. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Ed

[VintageTwin]

Telescope the front cylinder pushrod covers so you can see the front intake tappet at it's bottom travel (front piston is on comporession stroke, just after front intake valve closes). Remove the timing cap so you can see the flywheel mark. Bump the motor over very slowly (incremently) until the slash mark in the flywheel appears. Place the flywheel mark just past the right edge of the timing hole, but where you can see a complete gap (between the trailing edge of the flywheel slash and the right edge of the timing hole). There will (sometimes) be a dot in the flywheel that will appear just before the slash. Use a 9/16"" screwdriver to position the slash if it goes to far forward. (The Muir V-W book says to not "back" a flywheel up if you've past your mark, because you'll get a "slack" reading; but to move the motor forward again until you get to the spot you want. If you go with Muir, then put the plug back in the hole or you'll blow oil turning the motor over.)
Wrap the wire of the timer clockwise around the shaft base. Make sure timing mark on circuit breaker base (look for it on the side) aligns with end of adjusting stud plate. Note: Sometimes the end of the stud plate won't match up with the side mark once you have the machine timed and running. This is because the internal gears in the motor have "broken in" and slack between the gears develop. Don't worry about that now, we're just trying to get the timer in the motor.
Install a gasket to the base and they say, "With sealer on the timer base side". "Turn the timer shaft counter-clockwise approx. 60 degrees from position where mark on cam lobe lines up with breaker lever fiber. Temporarily insert timer into gear case with adjusting stud pointed towards front of m/c."..duhhh, and timer base is set over screw holes in case. Hold base in position and move timer to full advanced position. Observe how close timing mark on cam lobe lines up with breaker (points) lever fiber. If fiber does not line up with cam lobe timing mark, lift timer assembly and turn shaft gear so engagement with drive gear is changed one tooth. Again check cam lobe timing mark for alignment with lever fiber. Repeat this procedure until gear engagement is attained which closely aligns cam lobe mark and lever fiber (centerline of fiber), then secure the timer base to the crankcase. Then check ignition timing. Use Clymers or our book for ignition timing, because the OE manual describes '65 and up timing and can get corn-fusing, so says Tony the Tiger.

[oldman]

Thanks for the info.

Ed