Timing - Help

Ginder75

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
Messages
106
Is there a way to check/set the timing on a 1990 Evinrude 50 HP - TE50TLESF?

My manual says I need to have the boat on the water with the motor running at 5000 RPM in gear. I am not a rocket scientist, but I can see me hanging on the back deck with the timing light in one hand, a death grip on the seat pedistal, and my foot on the steering wheel.

Is there a method I can do in the driveway on a waterhose, or do I need to get some time with my fishing partner?
 

firemann2003

Seaman
Joined
Aug 26, 2006
Messages
58
Re: Timing - Help

(Timing At Cranking Speed 4°)
(J. Reeves)
The full spark advance can be adjusted without have the engine running at near full throttle 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 a spark tester and have the gap set to 7/16". 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.

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.
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Timing - Help

NOTE: If your engine has the "Fast Start" feature, you must disconnect/eliminate that feature in order to use the above 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.

I'll add this note to my database to eliminate any future confusion.
 
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