setting ign timing

[Retro-gone.]

with a timing light, how do i know what rpm to set the revs at without a rev counter? soon as i disconnect the vaccum the engine cuts out so surely the tickover must have to be higher than normal to compensate for this? but how much? every turn of the tickover screw gives me a different reading on the timing marks.

[Fiesta Steve]

with a timing light, how do i know what rpm to set the revs at without a rev counter? soon as i disconnect the vaccum the engine cuts out so surely the tickover must have to be higher than normal to compensate for this? but how much? every turn of the tickover screw gives me a different reading on the timing marks.

 

The engine shouldn't die when you disconnect the vacuum, I assume you are pluging the pipe ?

[Retro-gone.]

yeah i plugged the pipe, so it shouldnt die? hmm..

so i should keep the tickover at normal speed?

[Fiesta Steve]

Yes, setting it at idle should be fine, but if it won't idle..

[Retro-gone.]

probably wont idle if my ign timings well out which i do suspect it is.

[jimbo]

If it's well out have you tried checking/setting it with the vacuum pipe in place first, to get you near the mark. Then you can remove and plug the vacuum to get it spot on.

 

Worked for me when fitting the leccy ignition to the escort

[JP.]

You don't need a timing light to set ignition. It can be done the O'l Skool way with a 12volt testlight......or a wired 12V bulb...without the engine running

 

 

Hook it up like this

 

Hook up the 12V light to the coil.

Set crank on timing ( fire ) marks. If you need lets say 9' initial set timing marks at 9' before.( Don't know your specs so its an estimation).

Turn igniton key on ( no starting!!!!)

Set dizzy till the light goes out ( points are open) and fasten the dizzy.

Igniton set and done.

 

There was a time strobo lights didn't exist

 

This trick is also handy for a first startup after an engine rebuild.

Most freshly build engines need an inmidiate 20 minuts break in after their first start so there no time to fiddle with the ignition before it fires up and ruin the lobes of the newly installed camshaft.

[bigdaz27]

thats the way i do ignition timing cos im to tight to by a timing light

[Conor]

It could be cutting out because your air/fuel mix is too weak.

[Retro-gone.]

was the timing, its was way out, this is the 2nd time its decided to go out, what can be causing it to wander off? the dizzy spindle has almost zero side to side play, all pulleys are tight as is the dizzy retaining bolt, i just resat the timing and the car is back on song, absolutely flies again and tickover is puurrfect.

[Vista]

That's a question I'd like an answer to too as I have that problem now and again.

[Retro-gone.]

its a strange one for sure, never happend on my 1600 pinto in the 12 years i had it in the car, was talking to a local lad earlier who said he had to check and reset his ign timing every other week without fail on his mk5 cortina.

i dont mind doin it as its only a 10 min job but id like to know why it does it.

last sat the capri was running mint when i turned it off, next morning it just didnt want to tickover and i noticed a drastic power loss.

[Vista]

Mine has never been quite that bad, it just seems that every so often and with no apparent reason it advances slightly making it harder for the starter to crank it. Hasn't done it in a while though.

[BIGKEV]

Mine has never been quite that bad, it just seems that every so often and with no apparent reason it advances slightly making it harder for the starter to crank it. Hasn't done it in a while though.

 

 

Mine has done that since I owned it - I always thought it was a sticky starter but got my timing done on Saturday and it was 30 degrees out - now again its starting to stick funny - will electronic ignition sort this problem out?

[richie_stix]

like the budget test light for setting the timing! where does one get a test lamp, or do you make them DIY stylee?

 

H&H ignition, worth a look in if ya ask me, £125 for rebuilt dizzy plus leccy ignition module is a bargain!

[Retro-gone.]

i use the budget test lamp on my bikes and have done for 30+ years, but i just got a strobe light for the capri, cheap enough

[Vista]

Mine has never been quite that bad, it just seems that every so often and with no apparent reason it advances slightly making it harder for the starter to crank it. Hasn't done it in a while though.

 

 

Mine has done that since I owned it - I always thought it was a sticky starter but got my timing done on Saturday and it was 30 degrees out - now again its starting to stick funny - will electronic ignition sort this problem out?

 

Not if mine is anything to go by, I have an Optronic Lumenition system on mine

[bigdaz27]

it could be somthing to do with the centrifugal weights in the bottom of the dizzy ?