How setting the timing made me feel fantastic

[Fathermarc]

I'm no mechanic but when setting the timing last weekend I was made to feel really good.
I'd fitted a new manifold, wrapped the stainless steel exhaust systen in heat wrap. Set the the tappets. Replaced the spark plugs, rebuilt and fitted an original Solex. Dropped the oil pan, cleaned it out and repainted it. Painted the side cover and oil breather. Set the points and filled her up with new gaskets, oils and fuel. Charged the battery and fired her up. She ticked over perfectly and the new exhaust system sounded awesome. I smiled to myself... Soon it wouldn't be long before the safety check and rego. As I went to excellerate the engine choked and almost died out. I scratched my head and tweaked the carbi a little same same just diffferent. I scratched my head and tweaked a little more ... No change there!
A passing neighbour came and for 20 mins we tried everything else in between nothing. Was it the rebuilt carby, was it the solenoid? Was it the points? Was it the excellerator pump? Eventually the neighbour gave up and left me to it. I flicked through the pages of the workshop manual which directed me to the flywheel inspection cover. I opened her up and set the flywheel to 10% to TDC. Unbolted the distributer and rotated it clockwise until the points began to open and locked the dissy back in position. Checked the firing order on the leads and fired her up!
This time sweat sweat music as she wound up to max and the exhaused note rasped forth.
I took her for a spin down the lane and she felt awesome! I was told there'd be days like these!😋

[numpty]

Excellent. Timing makes a huge difference as I found with mine which was 10 deg out.

Nice part of the Shire you live in too. I lived in Oyster Bay from birth to 22 years old.

[Fathermarc]

Where abouts in Oyster Bay?

[LR1953]

I'm no mechanic but when setting the timing last weekend I was made to feel really good.

This time sweat sweat music as she wound up to max and the exhaused note rasped forth.
I took her for a spin down the lane and she felt awesome! I was told there'd be days like these!😋

Yep it's a great feeling. With distributors the points gap is vital, as is the timing. And you've correctly set the static timing. In my experience it's important to have the centrifugal advance also correct, and the vacuum advance. The latter makes a huge difference to low speed torque.
Finally make sure there's no slop in the distributor shaft. A sloppy shaft means the cam will be all over the place, which will cause different spark timing between cylinders. New bushes in the distributor body are usually the answer.

Cheers, Rob S

[numpty]

Where abouts in Oyster Bay?

Originally 68 Caravan Hd Rd opposite Farrer Pl (dad built this place in early'50's) and then 72 Carina Rd just past the dip

[Fathermarc]

literally just up the road. I'm on Green Point.

[Fathermarc]

I replaced he points as I noticed there was a hole right through the centre of the static face. I put it all back together again and set the timing as before and guess what???
No ignition...
I set it again at 10 degree before TDC set the gap of the newly installed points. Rotated the distributor to just before opening and .... No ignition. It's firing well but no spark me thinks..
I thought I'd wired it up wrong. Should the green and brown wires thouch the spring or not. I tried both.... No Ignition.

So I replaced the new point with the originals. It started for a minute (must have been muscle memory) tried to accelerated and it died and wouldn't start. Did notice that when I accelerate the engine went flat when on the gas... What does this mean my old land rover gurus???


I'm thinking a replacement solenoid but I'm just a novice and I'm replacing everything if it stops working. (So far so good and the old girls loving the treatment)

[bee utey]

The two wires are supposed to be connected to the spring, but you must make absolutely sure that the spring plus wires are insulated from the post they're anchored to, i.e. an insulating bush both top and bottom.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

For someone thats not a mechanic you're doing a great job of impersonating one,,

[Fathermarc]

The two wires are supposed to be connected to the spring, but you must make absolutely sure that the spring plus wires are insulated from the post they're anchored to, i.e. an insulating bush both top and bottom.

I think we have the answer right here .
So I have a metal post with two plastic bushes that retain the spring.

• So I've gone and put the first bush on.
• Slid the spring over the top of the first bush.
• Placed the second bush over the spring.
• The put on a washer
• Then fitted the Green and Brown wires
• Then a star washer and nut.
• So the two wires are connected to the post.
• No ignition.