Timing Rod Adjustment tips

[cpbrocke]

I mest up the timing on a '87 Force 50hp model C by adjusting the timing rod. The lock nut on this rod was rubbing the flywheel a little bit so I unscrewed it a little bit so it would clear. I did this not knowing that it was linked to the timing. Think before you do.

So I have a timing gun. Flywheel should still be set with TDC because I didn't mess with those at all, is that logical thinking? What is the procedure for getting this thing timed correctly again. I know that I have to rotate the tower shaft to WOT and hit the mark with the gun attached to #1 plug. But what am I looking for when I do this and how should I go about adjusting this so it works again?

 

[12Footer]

Re: Timing Rod Adjustment tips

Greetings, CP and welcome to the site.
That was timing advance link -- i think.
It takes two people to do it right... One to drive the boat, the other adjusting the link for maximum performance... (Or a test tank, but who has one of those in their garage)?
It should idle just fine as you predicted, but you'll have to actually adjust that rod under load and underway at 75% or higher throttle.Tricky and dangerous, but I see no way around that.
Be carefull, man.

 

[cpbrocke]

Re: Timing Rod Adjustment tips

Can the timing advance link be adjusted enough to the point where the engine will not start. I can not get mine to start again after accidentally adjusting the timing link.

I also but the white mag wire in the ignition switch to the ignition and the blue mag wire to one of the mag posts, ground to the other. This created a fair amount of smoke by the engine when i turned the key to the on position. Could this have melted something and created a short that would be keeping the engine from starting again?

 

[4runneradam]

Re: Timing Rod Adjustment tips

I was told by the guy at the marina to pull the plugs and crank the motor at full throttle (you'd have to have someone hold the carbs wide open) to set the WOT timing.