The Joe Reeves Maximum Spark Advance timing method below does not mention if the throttle cable is disconnected. I saw another thread that said the shift cable is disconnected (which makes sense), however, nowhere do I see any mention of removing the throttle cable. The reason I ask is because I disconnected the throttle cable too, and adjusted everything as per the instructions. However, when I went back and installed the throttle cable, it does not pull the same as I did by hand, and it looks like the spark advance is much more retarded, it falls short of the mark at full throttle that I had set with the throttle cable disconnected.
(Timing At Cranking Speed 4?)
(J. Reeves)
NOTE-1: If your engine has the "Fast Start" feature", you must disconnect/eliminate that feature in order to use the following method. The "Fast Start" automatically advances the spark electronically when the engine first starts, dropping it to normal when the engine reaches a certain temperture.
NOTE-2: A fellow member (Klink) from one of the various marine forums suggested having water supplied to the water pump (flushette or barrel) simply to provide lubrication to impeller. A worthwhile suggestion I thought, and entered here as an option.
The full spark advance can be adjusted at cranking speed,"without" have the engine running as follows.
To set the timing on that engine, have the s/plugs out, and have the throttle at full, set that timer base under the flywheel tight against the rubber stop on the end of the full spark timer advance stop screw (wire it against that stop if necessary).
Rig up a spark tester on the #1 cylinder plug wire. Hook up the timing light to the #1 plug wire. Crank the engine over and set the spark advance to 4? less than what the engine calls for.
It's a good idea to ground the other plug wires to avoid sparks that could ignite fuel that may shoot out of the plug holes. I've personally never grounded them out and have never encountered a problem but it could happen.
I don't know the full spark advance setting your engine calls for, but to pick a figure, say your engine calls for 28?, set the timing at 24?. The reasoning for the 4? difference is that when the engine is actually running, due to the nature of the solid state ignition componets, the engine gains the extra 4?.
If you set the engine to its true setting at cranking speed, when running it will advance beyond its limit by 4? which will set up pre-ignition causing guaranteed piston damage! You don't want that to take place.
No need to be concerned about the idle timing as that will take care of itself. The main concern is the full advance setting.
Be sure to use your own engines spark advance settings, not the one I picked out of the air here in my notes.
(Timing At Cranking Speed 4?)
(J. Reeves)
NOTE-1: If your engine has the "Fast Start" feature", you must disconnect/eliminate that feature in order to use the following method. The "Fast Start" automatically advances the spark electronically when the engine first starts, dropping it to normal when the engine reaches a certain temperture.
NOTE-2: A fellow member (Klink) from one of the various marine forums suggested having water supplied to the water pump (flushette or barrel) simply to provide lubrication to impeller. A worthwhile suggestion I thought, and entered here as an option.
The full spark advance can be adjusted at cranking speed,"without" have the engine running as follows.
To set the timing on that engine, have the s/plugs out, and have the throttle at full, set that timer base under the flywheel tight against the rubber stop on the end of the full spark timer advance stop screw (wire it against that stop if necessary).
Rig up a spark tester on the #1 cylinder plug wire. Hook up the timing light to the #1 plug wire. Crank the engine over and set the spark advance to 4? less than what the engine calls for.
It's a good idea to ground the other plug wires to avoid sparks that could ignite fuel that may shoot out of the plug holes. I've personally never grounded them out and have never encountered a problem but it could happen.
I don't know the full spark advance setting your engine calls for, but to pick a figure, say your engine calls for 28?, set the timing at 24?. The reasoning for the 4? difference is that when the engine is actually running, due to the nature of the solid state ignition componets, the engine gains the extra 4?.
If you set the engine to its true setting at cranking speed, when running it will advance beyond its limit by 4? which will set up pre-ignition causing guaranteed piston damage! You don't want that to take place.
No need to be concerned about the idle timing as that will take care of itself. The main concern is the full advance setting.
Be sure to use your own engines spark advance settings, not the one I picked out of the air here in my notes.
