Ignition Timing Indicator
 

I don't like to ask questions when I should be able to search for the answer, but I cannot find anything about this on the forum.
I have an electronic FSG ignition and I have put a stiff wire from one timing gear cover bolt, to the pulley with a mark on the pulley for TDC. I remember seeing something for sale that was a better looking degree rotation indicator to use with the timing light instead of the "bent coat hanger wire". I cannot find it anywhere. The sites like Berts and Mikes have something that looks like it must go under the distributor somehow, or mounts on the pulley , (which I don't know how you would do that with a full round part to put on the back of the pulley) and I don't know how that works for timing with a light.
Any suggestions for what I need or what this item is that they sell now? I wish there was a way to get to a pdf of the instructions for some of the items for sale so that we could know what we are buying.

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

I think what you are looking for is in Bratton's catalog page 78 part # 8890 or depending on how much of it you want #8900.

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Thanks, I could not tell at all from the picture on Berts and Mikes that this item was a bolt on indicator. All I could see was the round marked ring that must go under the distributor and the cut away cap. The other part was not clear and no details about what you got, just "instructions included". The item 8900 is just what I want.

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Roadster Rich: do you know how to find TDC and mark the pulley accurately?

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Find TDC with the timing pin...
Put a dot on the crank pulley and a dot on the frt cover so that it is even with the dot on the crank pulley
Use an adjustable timing light to check and adjust your timing...
No timing plate needed

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

"Find TDC with the timing pin..."

I'm a rookie, so take this with a grain of salt, but with the timing pin in the cam gear depression, are the timing marks on the cam gear and crank gear lined up? Is #1 at TDC?

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

No, the timing marks won't be lined up, and that doesn't matter, as they can't be seen without removing the front cover. However the piston is TDC when the pin drops into the dimple.

I put a drop of white paint on the pulley and adjacent spot on the cover, just as Mitch mentioned. I may never use it, but it does make it easier to know when TDC is coming up.

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Thanks, Tom. I think my confusion was that the Model A (so far) is the only car I've worked on that when the #1 piston is at TDC, the timing marks are not lined up. There are probably others of course.

Thanks for clarifying this for me.

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

When you find that dimple absolutely mark it. I had one that was so full of crud it could not be found without removing the cover. There will be a next time.

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

I do have a paint mark on my pulley from years ago. I also added a piece of coat hanger wire to one bolt on the gear cover and bent to match to the mark on the pulley. I marked a 5 degree advanced position for the idle. I use a timing light to time with the FSG electronic distributor, but liked a more decent looking indicator showing the slight retard and advance degrees. The referenced item is what I need. I also agree that using the white paint mark is so much easier than holding the pin in one hand while you crank with the other, all the way around the pulley to find the indication.
Also one of the problems with the electronic is if you get just a little advanced and try to start, the advanced firing point is hell on the starter and I'm sure on the rod journals. It is nice to have a good reference so I mark the distributor and the head with a white paint mark also, when the timing is right.
Now with a new higher compression head and ready to roll, I just wanted to clean all this up to look a little less "Rube Goldberg". (hope I'm not dating myself too much with that one)

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Rich
With an adjustable timing light you only need the two dots.. No scale or pointers
Mitch

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Probably doesn't work any better than the coat hanger wire, but looks a little better:

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

I bought a neat little gadget at Hershey this year. It is a spring loaded timing pin that is inserted into the threaded hole and is spring loaded. The pin drops into the dimple and is fool proof for finding the dimple. Haven't tried it yet, but it looked cool so I had to buy it.

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Like this one

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Re: Ignition Timing Indicator
 

Here's a picture of the two white dots I made on the cover and pulley.
Don't really need them, but they are a quick easy reference for finding TDC.