12-04-2020, 03:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-04-2020, 08:16 PM by Steve Jones.)
If it backfires and tries to catch then that indicates you've not got the timing correct. Forget the 'turn the engine a further one and a half turns' business and go for the simpler method.
Find the compression stroke on No1 (No 1 is the front cylinder) by putting your thumb over the plug hole. As soon as you feel compression, stop. With your probe down the plug hole touching the top of the piston, continue to turn the engine until the probe/piston is at its highest point. You've now found TDC on the compression stroke for No1. Without turning the engine any further, set your distributor so that the rotor arm points to the contact for No1 on the distributor cap. It helps to mark that point on the side of the distributor. Clamp the distributor up and assuming everything else is in order, the engine should start.
At this setting, it will be a bit retarded but once started, that can easily be adjusted.
Steve
Find the compression stroke on No1 (No 1 is the front cylinder) by putting your thumb over the plug hole. As soon as you feel compression, stop. With your probe down the plug hole touching the top of the piston, continue to turn the engine until the probe/piston is at its highest point. You've now found TDC on the compression stroke for No1. Without turning the engine any further, set your distributor so that the rotor arm points to the contact for No1 on the distributor cap. It helps to mark that point on the side of the distributor. Clamp the distributor up and assuming everything else is in order, the engine should start.
At this setting, it will be a bit retarded but once started, that can easily be adjusted.
Steve