JoeSimcoe@aol.com wrote:
>
> TJ,
>
> I don't know anything about resetting the timing with the retard off -
> however I set my TR6 to 4a ATDC dynamically and the car ran awful - then set
> it to 12a BTDC statically - it ran great (after which I put the light on it
> to see where it was dyanamically and while I don't remember the exact number
> I do remember that it wasn't even CLOSE to 4a ATDC)
>
> JoeSimcoe
I find this very interesting.....timing on most of the British cars I've
owned/worked on (Jags, MGs, Healeys, Triumph Spitfires) has been somewhat
fickle.
Setting the spark at TDC statically was always a way to "get it in the ballpark"
until you could get a timing light on it and set it to factory spec. Usually,
due to wear in the distributor, cam, etc a good rule of thumb was to advance it
until it pinged under light load and then back it off a skosh.
But Kelley's TR6 has be thoroughly dumbfounded....the car does not really seem
to care WHERE you put the spark...it's not going to ping. I recently disabled
the vacuum retard because it was irritating when coming to
stoplights....previous
to that I'd set it according to the Bentley manual, 4 degrees ATDC with the
engine
running (dynamically) timing light on, and the vacuum retard disconnected.
Acting on the wisdom of the list I disabled the vacuum retard and then set the
spark
static (turn engine to #1 cyl, timing mark 12 BTDC and rotate distributor till
it just
fires) at 12 BTDC. This is supposedly the correct timing for the 70 model
year.
The car runs just fine....but when I put the timing light on it, it's firing
even
earlier (in fact it's off the scale)...I'd suspect somewhere around 18 to 20
degrees
BTDC.
Am I needlessly worrying about this? Probably....
Am I always in search of answers to stupid questions? Certainly....
Are British cars somewhat silly? deafening silence follows....
Cheers,
TJ
--
TJ Noto Palo Alto CA USA
http://www.rahul.net/tjn
Owned by: 95 Ducati 900ss 65 MGB 87 BMW 325is 70 Triumph TR6
BMWCCA #105472
"Once again Yankee ingenuity Triumphs over British craftsmenship"
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