The Ford Barn

captndan · 12-28-2015, 02:43 PM

The advance retard control arm works fine. However after starting it wants to find a sweet spot. This is about half way down the quadrant. Advance the spark and it comes back to this spot. Is this normal or am I just missing something? I'm concerned that this slightly retarded position might be bad for combustion.

Patrick L. · 12-28-2015, 02:57 PM

' It wants to find the sweet spot ' ? All by itself ?

1/2 to 3/4 down is the normal position. These monsters really don't need 40º of advance. Full advance may be OK for continued highway speeds. I never [ well, very seldom ] bring the lever fully down. Just set where 'it' likes it.

Over the years the ' mechanism' wears and the lever doesn't want to stay put. Many are like that. This can be fixed but requires some work.

captndan · 12-28-2015, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

' It wants to find the sweet spot ' ? All by itself ?

1/2 to 3/4 down is the normal position. These monsters really don't need 40º of advance. Full advance may be OK for continued highway speeds. I never [ well, very seldom ] bring the lever fully down. Just set where 'it' likes it.

Over the years the ' mechanism' wears and the lever doesn't want to stay put. Many are like that. This can be fixed but requires some work.

Yup all by it's self. Runs fine in that 'sweet spot'. Think I'll just leave it alone. Actually it's kinda cool have the Model A tell you where it wants to run. Thanks

Patrick L. · 12-28-2015, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captndan

Yup all by it's self. Runs fine in that 'sweet spot'. Think I'll just leave it alone. Actually it's kinda cool have the Model A tell you where it wants to run. Thanks

LOL ! That monster has been running for a whole lot of years and it knows what it wants !

2manycars · 12-28-2015, 05:17 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Check your linkage. That sweet spot on the quadrant may be because the arm on the distributor plate is hitting the full advance of the opening in the upper body. If so, your linkages need adjusting so that you get full advance and full retard. When you have that, the normal position is about half way down, or 9 0;clock. Full advance for high speed.

12-28-2015, 02:43 PM	#1
captndan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Tennessee Posts: 714	Advance/retard control The advance retard control arm works fine. However after starting it wants to find a sweet spot. This is about half way down the quadrant. Advance the spark and it comes back to this spot. Is this normal or am I just missing something? I'm concerned that this slightly retarded position might be bad for combustion.

12-28-2015, 02:57 PM	#2
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Advance/retard control ' It wants to find the sweet spot ' ? All by itself ? 1/2 to 3/4 down is the normal position. These monsters really don't need 40º of advance. Full advance may be OK for continued highway speeds. I never [ well, very seldom ] bring the lever fully down. Just set where 'it' likes it. Over the years the ' mechanism' wears and the lever doesn't want to stay put. Many are like that. This can be fixed but requires some work.

12-28-2015, 05:17 PM	#5
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: Advance/retard control Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Check your linkage. That sweet spot on the quadrant may be because the arm on the distributor plate is hitting the full advance of the opening in the upper body. If so, your linkages need adjusting so that you get full advance and full retard. When you have that, the normal position is about half way down, or 9 0;clock. Full advance for high speed.