Timing 180 degrees off!!

Runaboat

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Jun 27, 2009
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What could cause the timing to be 180 off? Replaced the power pack, but didn't help. I'm guessing it's probably the timing base, but just guessing and prefer the opinion of someone more knowledgeable than me.

1985 Evinrude 70 HP - E70ELCOS
 

countvlad

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

What could cause the timing to be 180 off? Replaced the power pack, but didn't help. I'm guessing it's probably the timing base, but just guessing and prefer the opinion of someone more knowledgeable than me.

1985 Evinrude 70 HP - E70ELCOS

have you tried to set the timing? if not follow the link bellow...

if yes, give us more info on the problem....
 

Runaboat

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

I just about would have bet my next paycheck it was a sheared flywheel key, and I would have lost it!! The key is fine, as are the magnets.
 

wilde1j

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

Well, I don't think the timer base has enough possible movement to manage 180? off. How have you established 180? error?
 

Runaboat

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

With timing light hooked to #1 cylinder. Actually it doesn't appear to be quite 180 off ... but it's WAY off, I'm guessing maybe 120+.

It was running pretty good, but decided it was time to rebuild carbs. Re-installed them, started it up, and ran good for ten minutes. Then it lost spark to one cylinder. Replaced the coil and it still wouldn't start. Replaced the power pack and it started up, but died out after 30 seconds. Then checked the timing and that's when I see it's just way, way off.
 

countvlad

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

With timing light hooked to #1 cylinder. Actually it doesn't appear to be quite 180 off ... but it's WAY off, I'm guessing maybe 120+.

It was running pretty good, but decided it was time to rebuild carbs. Re-installed them, started it up, and ran good for ten minutes. Then it lost spark to one cylinder. Replaced the coil and it still wouldn't start. Replaced the power pack and it started up, but died out after 30 seconds. Then checked the timing and that's when I see it's just way, way off.

im still confused... looking and the flywheel marks you should have diffrent numbers....

it should say #1 cylinder and a 0(zero) on that zero to the left and right, should be numbers possible all the way up to 28(left side) that would be BTDC and possible numbers up to 10 or 12(right side) which is ATDC...

when the motor is idle you should read ATDC, when you are runing you shoudl read BTDC...

is that what you are reading? if yes what is your reading at idle?

btw do not run the motor on muffs above 2000 rpms to set the WOT.... use the link bellow to set your WOT timing....
 

Runaboat

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

Let me see if I can explain a little better.

The motor will not start, so this is at cranking speed with the plugs out. I've tried both at full throttle and in neutral and that doesn't seem to make a great amount of difference. As the timing light flashes, the timing marks on the flywheel are 180 degrees from where they should be! They're all the way over on the other side of the timing pointer facing the opposite direction!!
 

JB

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

120 degrees is the exact timing difference among the three cylinders.

You have the plugs wired up to the wrong cylinders.
 

ryendube

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

Let me see if I can explain a little better.

The motor will not start, so this is at cranking speed with the plugs out. I've tried both at full throttle and in neutral and that doesn't seem to make a great amount of difference. As the timing light flashes, the timing marks on the flywheel are 180 degrees from where they should be! They're all the way over on the other side of the timing pointer facing the opposite direction!!

umm which wire you have light on...............
 

countvlad

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

umm which wire you have light on...............

make usre you are on #1... if im not mistaken looking at the heads and sparkplugs should be the top right if you have a V4....

if you have a 2 or 3 cylinder should be the top piston....
 

Runaboat

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

120 degrees is the exact timing difference among the three cylinders.

You have the plugs wired up to the wrong cylinders.


Hmmmm, I would've said no possible way ... but now you've put the doubt in my mind. I'll triple check them. Thanks JB!
 

countvlad

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

Hmmmm, I would've said no possible way ... but now you've put the doubt in my mind. I'll triple check them. Thanks JB!

do you have a manual? if you dont might not be a bad idea....
 

ryendube

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

Hmmmm, I would've said no possible way ... but now you've put the doubt in my mind. I'll triple check them. Thanks JB!

more likely thats the only possible way...... simple test swap your timing light to the other wires and watch the timing magically correct itself.... whichever is closest to proper setting is #1 wire
 

Runaboat

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

After much cussing, head scratching, wire swaping, battery re-charging, etc., etc ... I believe I may have found the problem.

Wires are not crossed, flywheel key is not sheared, crankshaft is not broken (thank goodness!!). Good compression, good spark, getting fuel.

Thought maybe the timing base was somehow shorting out the power pack so ordered new ones. And surprise, surprise ... the new timing base didn't match the old one.

After even more head scratching & cussing I've discovered that at some point in time someone has bolted an '83 powerhead up to this '85!!!!
 

ryendube

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

After much cussing, head scratching, wire swaping, battery re-charging, etc., etc ... I believe I may have found the problem.

Wires are not crossed, flywheel key is not sheared, crankshaft is not broken (thank goodness!!). Good compression, good spark, getting fuel.

Thought maybe the timing base was somehow shorting out the power pack so ordered new ones. And surprise, surprise ... the new timing base didn't match the old one.

After even more head scratching & cussing I've discovered that at some point in time someone has bolted an '83 powerhead up to this '85!!!!

? same #1 cyl, same crank. if you are 120 out switching the wires will move them 120. like if your motor is running perfect and you swap the wires you will be 120 out then 240 out then back to 0.

unless i missing something about outboards that contridicts any knowledge I have about how a motor works. /shrug

love to know how it turns out.
 

ryendube

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Re: Timing 180 degrees off!!

like is triggering of coils (wires messed up ) messed up when are the other 2 plugs firing? if you say #1 is 120 out what is timing of the other 2 cylinders?
 
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