Ford Tractor Can’t Figure Out Timing

[wmonroe]

Tractor is a 961 propane. This one really has me stumped and I’m hoping it’s something dumb I’m missing.

I’ll go through the whole story. Was pulling the tractor back in the barn and it shut off just like it ran out of fuel (propane tank on it is full). Did some troubleshooting and found I wasn’t getting spark, dug into that farther and found the centrifugal advance timing weights were worn out and bad. Found a set in good condition and got them installed, set the base timing, and the tractor started up and idled fine. Ran out of time so shut the tractor down without setting timing with a light. I needed to move it a day or so later so started it up and it ran rough but got it moved to do some other work. Fast forward another day and I go to start it to set the timing with a timing light and it won’t start again.

I’m putting cylinder 1 (closest to radiator) at 5* BTDC and rotating the distributor to where the points just start to open. The problem I’m having is the rotor is just coming off of a post on the cap so no spark is getting through the cap to the plug. I’ll put in a picture showing the points just starting to open at 5* BTDC and another picture with a screwdriver pointing where the post would be on the cap. Rotor rotation is clockwise. Points are gapped at 0.025. No matter how I rotate the distributor I can’t get the points to open as the rotor aligns with a post on the cap.

Sorry for the long post but I can’t seem to figure this one out. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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[John0829]

Sounds like you are missing the little metal clip that goes under the rotor. Aggravating little thing that usually ends up getting lost IF you are not aware of it. Number 38.

 

[wmonroe]

I do have the little clip (and picked up a spare just in case) and the rotor is fairly tight on the shaft.

 

[TractorTech]

Pictures will not come up due to permissions. Can you just attach to your post? Also, your description is unclear as I read it the same way as @John0829

 

[wmonroe]

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[wmonroe]

Added the picture again. Sorry for the lack of clarity, basically I can’t get the rotor to point at a post on the cap at the some time the points are open. It’s like I need to be able to rotate the distributor without the points rotating.

 

[TractorTech]

The only thing that I can add, and I think you already alluded to this, is that the rotor is bad where it mounts to the shaft.

 

[KWentling]

Only suggestion I have is are you sure you're on the compression stroke?

 

[wmonroe]

The rotor is only about 20 hours old and fits fairly snug.

Yes, definitely on the compression stroke.

 

[KWentling]

The only book I have around here anymore is for a Case 830 that left about 20 years ago. It sounds like your procedure is correct. It does say that for a gas engine the timing is 4*BTDC and LP is 2*ATDC. I don't know if 6* would make enough difference.