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MG TD TF 1500 - Advance timing light trick

I'm just wondering if an advance adjustable timing light could be used to set running timing if the distributor bob weights were wired closed? This would prevent the distributor advance that starts as early as 300 rpm and allow an accurate setting of the timing to the new desired settings. Any thoughts out there?
Keith
Keith McKenzie

Interesting, Keith. But I think that a light bulb and some marks on the pulley would do the same thing. Bud
Bud Krueger (TD10855)

Ha ! Far too simple Bud. You know how it is when you have a hammer , the whole world looks like a nail ! Well you guessed right , I have an adjustable timing light so....I will give it a whirl and see if I can manage not to damage anything in the process.
Keith
Keith McKenzie

The trick I've heard is to set the advance on the timing light to the max desired advance and set the timing with the engine running at an rpm (2500-3k?) Where full advance is achieved. Then adjust distributor so that the top dead center mark hits dead on with the pointer. These engines are very sensitive to advance curves and the advance does WAY more for you atrunning speed than at idle.

Alex
Alex Waugh

I watched John Twist conduct numerous tune-ups in Reno and using the adjustable timing light set to the maximum advance and then checking at about 3500 rpms is exactly what he did. His theory is having the timing right at driving speeds is much more important than a smooth idle.

Don Scott
don scott

You can do the same thing by placing a mark at about 1.05 inches before the factory mark on the pulley and timing the car at 3500 at that mark.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Gents
What are your recommendations on an adjustable advance timing light to buy? I'm in the market. Any better than others?
Tom
'54 TF
Tom Norby

Tom,
"recommendations on an adjustable advance timing light"...check fee-bay. I bought a NOS in the box for $10. Not a lot of demand for these anymore!
Don't recall the brand right off the top of my head but is a manual adjust with a "knob"...not a fancy digital version. (Those are $$$) Can post a picture and name later for you when I get out to the garage today.
Cheers,
David
David Sheward

Dave does this take into account the desired 6-10 degrees of added advance when timing at 3500rpm ?
Thanks, Keith
Keith McKenzie

Keith,

The 1.05 inch (3.75 X Pi / 360 x 32) represents 32 degrees of advance at 3500 RPM. The initial advance will be whatever it is after making this setting. If a competent builder set up your distributor, it will likely read somewhere from 10-14 degrees at idle below 1000 RPM and possibly 6-10 degrees static.

Hope this helps,
dave
Dave Braun

This thread was discussed between 17/06/2011 and 19/06/2011

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