74-76 - 9.9/15HP - Setting Timing when Flywheel has Multiple Marks

[JohnnyGuy]

Hi all,

I was recently doing some ignition work on a ’74 Evinrude 9.9; cleaning the points and setting the timing.
I was setting the timing with a multi-meter.
Throttle was fully advanced and I was adjusting the points to open when the mark on the flywheel was in the middle of the two marks on the armature plate.
My question (or confirmation request) is with regards to the marks on the flywheel The flywheel on this motor had two sets of marks. One marked “E” and another marked “R”. I was assuming this was for “Electric” and “Rope” start. Since the motor is a rope start I setup the timing based on the “R” indicator on the flywheel.
Upon doing some reading on this subject after I completed the work, I noticed that Leeroys Rambling had his aligned to “E” even on a Rope start (at least that’s my understanding from what I had read).
I was wondering, should I be setting the timing to the “E” or the “R” marks?
The best way that I can think of to confirm this now would be to remove the spark plugs and watch for the cylinder to reach TDC as I turn the flywheel and then review which flywheel mark is between the marks on the armature plate?

If someone with more experience with this could provide some insight, it’d be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
JG

 

[bwkre]

From the 76 manual, model 10624,

There are 2 different flywheels, one for rope start and one for electric start. The rope start has 2 magnets and the electric start has 4. Check your flywheel, if it has 4 then use the E setting, although the manual doesn't actually state it. My 76 just has 2 magnets and there is only marks, no letters,

Also you could confirm by removing flywheel. Rotate crank (clockwise only) until the word "set" on the timing cam lines up with one of the breaker point rub blocks. The points will be open and if you carefully place the flywheel back on, the timing marks will line up with either E or R. No guessing then, just make sure nothing moves when you do it.
See attached from manual.

 

[JohnnyGuy]

Thanks very much for the informative reply. I'll check it out this weekend!

 

[Crosbyman]

you could poke a screwdriver in a sparkplug hole and rotate the FW till you carefully sense you are at TDC...... then check the marks on the FW

 

[JohnnyGuy]

you could poke a screwdriver in a sparkplug hole and rotate the FW till you carefully sense you are at TDC...... then check the marks on the FW

Did just this, when the FW was at TDC the marks were on the "R" from the FW.

 

[bwkre]

Interesting, out of curiosity, how far apart are the E & R timing marks?

 

[hardwater fisherman]

My 1976 40hp has the R and E timing marks also. And I set my points to the R mark. I believe you will find the extra magnets line up with E mark . And is in line with the battery charging coil, if you have one. EDIT I just reread that it is a rope start motor. My rope start flywheel has only timing marks and the electric start flywheel has the R and E marks.

 

[OptsyEagle]

I have done that multiple times and each and every time after completion I would check the point gaps after and they were always bang on 0.020". I now just set them to 0.020" and run with it. Never had a problem.

 

[oldboat1]

I'm with Optsy Eagle -- have never had an issue setting the points at .020 when the rub arm is on the high point of the cam.

 

[Crosbyman]

see pic