hot exhaust pipe and poor power

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

if the base timing ain't right then whatever you do on a hill isn't right.

That depends on the reaction of the engine to the setting of the lever. As long as the timing range is correct enough to build sufficient cylinder pressure and not be too advanced or retarded when starting then the rest of the advance with the lever and position does not matter as long as the timing setting is sufficient for the particular speed and load.

[tbirdtbird]

so you are saying the base timing does not matter. It could be 2* BTC, 45* ATC, 100* BTC, anything at all, no matter, we'll just play with the spark lever until something good happens.

so why don't we just weld the cam to the dizzy shaft in any old position and just play with the lever all day and hope the car will run? so why does every dizzy have some sort of timing-setting feature? Just a waste of engineering, I guess. Why even have a dizzy? why not just have a manual switch on the seat next to you and you just flick the switch on and off like crazy; you'll get it right a few times per cycle and sure the car will 'sorta' run. At that rate you'll be LOOKING for hills so you can slow your hand down a little and rest up for the next straightaway

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

I swear there are shills in the audience just to get the viewing rate to go thru the roof.
The current timing gear replacement thread has so much nonsense in it that the view count is well over 5000. There are not even that many Model As still in existence, thus not 5000 people who would even be looking at the thread
And the pulley is not even on correctly.

well at any given time there are always more guests viewing fordbarn over members... like now its showing 100 or so members vs 200 guests

[Fred]

Yup, I bet Clem is on his 2nd 6 pack trying to figure out who is right here !!...Either that or he has thrown the dizzy in the Potomac River...

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

so you are saying the base timing does not matter. It could be 2* BTC, 45* ATC, 100* BTC, anything at all, no matter, we'll just play with the spark lever until something good happens.

so why don't we just weld the cam to the dizzy shaft in any old position and just play with the lever all day and hope the car will run? so why does every dizzy have some sort of timing-setting feature? Just a waste of engineering, I guess. Why even have a dizzy? why not just have a manual switch on the seat next to you and you just flick the switch on and off like crazy; you'll get it right a few times per cycle and sure the car will 'sorta' run. At that rate you'll be LOOKING for hills so you can slow your hand down a little and rest up for the next straightaway

That's not what I'm saying at all. ..... and I think you may know so!

Furthermore, why all this type of response? Can't people disagree with you and Purdy? Are you both bonafide automotive engineers?

Naturally, one would want the base timing to be as exact as it was when Henry first made it. However, if the setting is not exactly perfect then it does not matter as long as the range is enough, since it's being set by hand with a lever, and of course also the timing is not too advanced when starting to kick back the engine and bend the starter or too retarded so as to fire so late to not build enough cylinder pressure to run.

[Fred K-OR]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Wow, guess I don't know what I am doing-which is true! But I have used the Nurex tool many times and like Mitch says, it gets it close. Thus using something like this is far better to use for a person like me that knows little about this sort of thing than try to figure out what is being said by a number of the experienced Model A guys.

Lets go on to another subject!

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by edmondclinton

That's not what I'm saying at all. ..... and I think you may know so!

Furthermore, why all this type of response? Can't people disagree with you and Purdy? Are you both bonafide automotive engineers?

Naturally, one would want the base timing to be as exact as it was when Henry first made it. However, if the setting is not exactly perfect then it does not matter as long as the range is enough, since it's being set by hand with a lever, and of course also the timing is not too advanced when starting to kick back the engine and bend the starter or too retarded so as to fire so late to not build enough cylinder pressure to run.

The thing is, this thread is about helping a fellow Fordbarner set the base distributor timing . The info that Dave and I have given is as correct as it can be. If you read the posts you would see that I mentioned using the spark lever to control timing knock and bucking at low speeds. That about covers it , in as simple of terms as it could ever be expressed.

Base timing is one thing. Proper use of the spark lever is another. The last time that I looked, nobody said anything about going up a hill with a car load of people at 100 degrees with the spark fully advanced .Your arrogant attitude is the problem .

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

To KNOW if your timing's correct, with your carb adjusted properly:
1 Spark up= a smooth, easy, rhythmical, TADA-TADA-TADA-TADA.
2 Spark 1/2 way down= a SMOOTH, but FASTER idle.
3 Spark full down= an even FASTER, but "ROLLING" idle.

If you have ALL the above, timing's "EL PERFECTO"--If not, make minor corrections, toward the advance or the retard, to obtain these sounds.
REMEMBER, timing ONLY changes, when the point gap decreases. Then just re-set the point gap & timing's miraculously back to perfect, without goin' through 5 pages of discussion, AGAIN!!
WULL, thet's whut Chief Tole Ol'Bill, & thet's whut Ol'Bill tole me to tole you all!
Buster T.
AND REMEMBER, AN OVERLEAN MIXTURE CAUSES MANIFOLD/EXHAUST OVERHEATING--IT IS NOT CAUSED BY AN OVER-RICH MIXTURE! The Red Book states it WRONG!

[Patrick L.]

I agree with Vince.



Some of these threads lately have taken on a life of their own.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

I agree with Vince.



Some of these threads lately have taken on a life of their own.

regular or buttered?

it gives me something to do between sets

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

The thing is, this thread is about helping a fellow Fordbarner set the base distributor timing . The info that Dave and I have given is as correct as it can be. If you read the posts you would see that I mentioned using the spark lever to control timing knock and bucking at low speeds. That about covers it , in as simple of terms as it could ever be expressed.

Base timing is one thing. Proper use of the spark lever is another. The last time that I looked, nobody said anything about going up a hill with a car load of people at 100 degrees with the spark fully advanced .Your arrogant attitude is the problem .

I'll give you the last word Purdy with your post above but ONLY because debate on this site is considered drama and not allowed.

[Tom Wesenberg]

When the timing pin drops into the cam gear detent, the rotor should be in this position. After setting the distributor cam to the correct position and tightening the screw, give the rotor a light clockwise tug to make sure the freeplay is on the leading side of the cam rotation.

The position of the timing lever doesn't matter for this check.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by edmondclinton

That's not what I'm saying at all. ..... and I think you may know so!

Furthermore, why all this type of response? Can't people disagree with you and Purdy? Are you both bonafide automotive engineers?

Naturally, one would want the base timing to be as exact as it was when Henry first made it. However, if the setting is not exactly perfect then it does not matter as long as the range is enough, since it's being set by hand with a lever, and of course also the timing is not too advanced when starting to kick back the engine and bend the starter or too retarded so as to fire so late to not build enough cylinder pressure to run.

Good luck with that one. I think you will find that most Model A guys just pull the lever down and leave it there. Some of us do not but most do.

[Purdy Swoft]

Thanks Tom !!! good pic . Thats what I'm talking about .

[George Miller]

Back to the question late timing. Readjust the timing that should fix the problem with a red exhaust.

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

When the timing pin drops into the cam gear detent, the rotor should be in this position. After setting the distributor cam to the correct position and tightening the screw, give the rotor a light clockwise tug to make sure the freeplay is on the leading side of the cam rotation.

The position of the timing lever doesn't matter for this check.

I believe in that completely. That way when the lever is all the way up for starting it's not likely that the setting will be too retarded as it might be when the free play is taken up otherwise. But when going down the road as long as the timing can be advanced far enough with the lever for the particular speed and load then that is all that's needed.

[stewwolfe]

Tom hit the nail right on the head with his picture! If your timing gear detent is correctly positioned, and your timing pin is in the detent, and it looks like Tom's picture, you're going to be really close to perfect timing (you may have to adjust it a little bit, but not much).

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by George Miller

Good luck with that one. I think you will find that most Model A guys just pull the lever down and leave it there. Some of us do not but most do.

Yup, and it's sad that they do that.

Better drivers move the spark lever in accordance with changes in speed and load over a wider range and secure better results.

[stewwolfe]

Originally Posted by edmondclinton

Yup, and it's sad that they do that.

Better drivers move the spark lever in accordance with changes in speed and load over a wider range and secure better results.

I generally run both of my cars with the spark lever around 2/3 of the way down and adjust it down further if I'm running over 45 on relatively flat roads. I find I get more power from the engine that way.

[Ray64]

T Bird thanks for the TUTORIAL. Good piece.