Use of Timing Light on Golden Jubilee

[HanknotFrank]

Thanks for all the suggestions for my gear shifting problems. This question concerns the use of a timing light. This may sound dumb but are the marks for timing that show up on a timing light already on an old tractor? I have a basic understanding of how it works but need to know if I put the marks on with a special marker of are they factory installed? Thanks.

 

[John0829]

The marks are on the flywheel, there is a small hole on the right side of the block some have a kind of pointer in it some only have a mark. I have seen them with a sliding cover over the hole held by a single pivot bolt. You will have to turn the engine over by hand to find and clean the marks on the flywheel. Here is a pic from the manual for an 800 tractor, the NAA is the same. I don't remember what the NAA times at but I believe it is 8 BTC.

 

[HanknotFrank]

8 BTC rings a bell. I see the marks and I have seen them on my flywheel but I still don't quite understand how the one at 8 BTC is highlighted by the timing light. Thanks.

 

[John0829]

Timing 101: Connect your timing light to the number one spark plug wire, they usually clamp around the wire and have two leads that connect to the battery for power. Assuming this has been converted to 12V, if it is still 6V then you will need a light that powered by AC or even an old style non-powered that connects between the spark plug and distributor.

Before starting find the timing mark you want to use, in this case 8 BTC, clean and mark it with a bit of paint on it and the stationary mark. I use white or yellow, to make it easier to see. With the engine at operating temp and idling @450 RPM point the timing light at the opening. The light, most have a button to push to make it flash, press the button while pointing the light at the marks and the strobing of the light will make the marks appear to be stationary. Loosen the hold down bolt at the base of the distributor a tiny bit so the distributor can be rotated by hand and GENTLY turn the distributor left or right to bring the stationary mark in the hole and the desired mark on the flywheel in line with each other. When marks are aligned, retighten the hold down bolt of the distributor and recheck timing to be sure it did no move.

NOTE: look as straight on to the marks as possible, looking at the marks at an angle WILL change your perspective of the alignment and cause the timing to be off by a few of degrees.

 

[Dman1981]

Guess I must be old never used

 

[workinonit]

You have that backwards. You would have to be really young or never, ever worked on a 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s car to have missed out on a timing light.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve got a dwell meter and timing light in my tool box but it’s been a few years since they were used. Do you need to set the dwell on that tractor first?

 

[HanknotFrank]

Timing 101: Connect your timing light to the number one spark plug wire, they usually clamp around the wire and have two leads that connect to the battery for power. Assuming this has been converted to 12V, if it is still 6V then you will need a light that powered by AC or even an old style non-powered that connects between the spark plug and distributor.

Before starting find the timing mark you want to use, in this case 8 BTC, clean and mark it with a bit of paint on it and the stationary mark. I use white or yellow, to make it easier to see. With the engine at operating temp and idling @450 RPM point the timing light at the opening. The light, most have a button to push to make it flash, press the button while pointing the light at the marks and the strobing of the light will make the marks appear to be stationary. Loosen the hold down bolt at the base of the distributor a tiny bit so the distributor can be rotated by hand and GENTLY turn the distributor left or right to bring the stationary mark in the hole and the desired mark on the flywheel in line with each other. When marks are aligned, retighten the hold down bolt of the distributor and recheck timing to be sure it did no move.

NOTE: look as straight on to the marks as possible, looking at the marks at an angle WILL change your perspective of the alignment and cause the timing to be off by a few of degrees.

Thank you for your response. I knew everything you mentioned except for marking with white or yellow paint. That is what I tried to specifically ask but you were the one one to mention that part. Thanks.

 

[number two]

I've got my distributor cam lube next to the dwell meter.
Timing light and screw starters are in the tool chest.
Try connecting the pickup to the coil wire for more flashes on the timing marks.
Fun thread!

 

[workinonit]

White fingernail polish is good for marking timing marks.

 

[John0829]

Do you need to set the dwell on that tractor first?

I personally have never set or checked the dwell on these tractors. Just set the point gap correctly and moved on to other things.

 

[dodge man]

On cars the dwell seemed pretty critical I’m not sure on a tractor.

 

[gstrom99]

The point gap (dwell) will affect when it sparks (slightly), so yes the point gap/dwell needs to be set before looking at the timing.

 

[HanknotFrank]

I've got my distributor cam lube next to the dwell meter.
Timing light and screw starters are in the tool chest.
Try connecting the pickup to the coil wire for more flashes on the timing marks.
Fun thread!

Ok, thanks.

 

[HanknotFrank]

White fingernail polish is good for marking timing marks.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[HanknotFrank]

The point gap (dwell) will affect when it sparks (slightly), so yes the point gap/dwell needs to set before looking at the timing.

I think I got that part right but I will tweak if necessary. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[dodge man]

When I set points by gap on cars, it was usually out of whack when I checked it with a dwell meter is why I brought it up.

 

[HanknotFrank]

Timing 101: Connect your timing light to the number one spark plug wire, they usually clamp around the wire and have two leads that connect to the battery for power. Assuming this has been converted to 12V, if it is still 6V then you will need a light that powered by AC or even an old style non-powered that connects between the spark plug and distributor.

Before starting find the timing mark you want to use, in this case 8 BTC, clean and mark it with a bit of paint on it and the stationary mark. I use white or yellow, to make it easier to see. With the engine at operating temp and idling @450 RPM point the timing light at the opening. The light, most have a button to push to make it flash, press the button while pointing the light at the marks and the strobing of the light will make the marks appear to be stationary. Loosen the hold down bolt at the base of the distributor a tiny bit so the distributor can be rotated by hand and GENTLY turn the distributor left or right to bring the stationary mark in the hole and the desired mark on the flywheel in line with each other. When marks are aligned, retighten the hold down bolt of the distributor and recheck timing to be sure it did no move.

NOTE: look as straight on to the marks as possible, looking at the marks at an angle WILL change your perspective of the alignment and cause the timing to be off by a few of degrees.

Ok, first attempt after attending timing 101. I think I did 2 things wrong. I used a toothpick and put a very fine paint mark on the scribed line for 8 degrees. The tractor would not idle below 550 or 600 rpm without dying. Probably need to adjust something on carb(or rebuild). For a first try it was not too bad but I could barely see anything on the 8 degree mark. Thanks for your help.

 

[John0829]

A bit bigger mark, think more along the lines of the thickness of a #2 pencil lead. As for the idle speed don't sweat it, a world of these have been timed at 500-600 rpm because they would not idle any lower. Plus a lot of people do not like for their tractor to idle that low, mine will idle down to just above 350 rpm but I usually keep it up around 550 because it just sounds better to me.

That small of a difference in rpm will only affect the timing by a degree or two at best, if at all. Depends on how sensitive you distributor fly weights are.

 

[HanknotFrank]

A bit bigger mark, think more along the lines of the thickness of a #2 pencil lead. As for the idle speed don't sweat it, a world of these have been timed at 500-600 rpm because they would not idle any lower. Plus a lot of people do not like for their tractor to idle that low, mine will idle down to just above 350 rpm but I usually keep it up around 550 because it just sounds better to me.

That small of a difference in rpm will only affect the timing by a degree or two at best, if at all. Depends on how sensitive you distributor fly weights are.

Thanks a lot. I will try again with thicker line.