triumphs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re[2]: TR6 Timing Redux

To: JoeSimcoe@aol.com, TJ Noto <tjn@rahul.net>
Subject: Re[2]: TR6 Timing Redux
From: "Jim Sudduth" <jim.sudduth@autodesk.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 96 17:01:37 PST
Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net
     Hi TJ:
     
     I messed around with a strobe light and dynamic timing on my '74 for a 
     while just after I got it 2 1/2 years ago and the car hated it. Now I 
     just use a cheap little 12 volt bulb and holder with wires and 
     alligator clips, set it statically to 10 BTDC and forget about it. The 
     car's happy and so am I.
     
     Jim
     
     P.S. My vacuum retard is disconnected. It revs easily to 4500 RPM 
     which is enough for me. And it passed smog easily. I guess what I'm 
     saying here is keep it simple - the car will give you plenty else to 
     do without worrying about the timing!


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: TR6 Timing Redux
Author:  TJ Noto <tjn@rahul.net> at SMTPCC3
Date:    7/23/96 4:21 PM


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"


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>