Ugh! Why is my Force 85 firing at TDC at crank speed?

[HydroGeek]

Frustration. I'm not a boat tech and can't afford to hire one

After having ignition problems, and putting a new CDI stator on my 1988 Force 85hp, I did a test run on muffs, and was glad it fired right up. However, it sounded a bit rough, so I thought i would check timing and link and sync carbs (it's been awhile since on the water).

Grabbed the #1 plug wire and was surprised to see it firing at TDC at cranking speed.

What the heck? After reading the timing posts, watching the video, shouldn't this be firing at 28deg?

Why would this even run?

I checked TDC against the flywheel mark with a screwdriver in #1 and it lines up.

Here are some clues :

1) When I pulled the flywheel, the magnet caught on the old stator and dropped off. I was able to match up the rust and adhesive marks on the magnet and replace it on the flywheel with high temp cement. I feel really confident that I was able to get it back in the same location. But I could be wrong. (odd that it is firing at EXACTLY TDC +/- 1deg). No way did I screw up the placement by 30 degrees.

2) The timing light I have is roughly 6000 years old. I think Moses used it. I don't think this is the problem, but thought I might share.

3) It is possible that in replacing the stator, I miswired. Again, I took my time and was very, very cautious.

As a side note, I was not happy with the quality of the CDI stator I bought. It was heavily covered in varnish, and when I first installed the flywheel back on, the flywheel would not turn. I had to take the stator off and remove the varnish from the ends of the poles with a dremel and a wire brush. I called CDI to complain, and they did not care.

Any ideas?

Thank you!

 

[pnwboat]

The stator really has nothing to do with ignition timing. The ignition trigger assy. which sits inside the stator is what controls the ignition timing. As you move the throttle, the trigger assy should move to change the ignition timing. If the throttle is in the idle position, and you perform a static timing test, the ignition timing will be very close to TDC. You have to push the throttle to WOT position to set the timing properly on a static timing test.

 

[HydroGeek]

Hmmmm.... ok, makes sense. So in order to do this, I will have to jumper across the neutral safety switch, run the throttle all the way to WOT, THEN crank and check for 28deg? I think that part is missing in the timing instructions.

If I figure this out, I think I will create my own edited instructions for doing this... more of an idiot's guide to checking timing. Sometimes it can be tough for an expert to write low level instructions for us beginners. I think level 10 folks forget how it is for us at level 0 to understand to all the details Thank you for the help!

 

[Jiggz]

Just a note on your timing light, Moses never had a boat. Remember instead of boating he split the water and just walked on through. Now maybe your timing light was probably more or less used by Noah. He had a boat. A very large boat! LOL Yup as mentioned by PNW, you should jumper the neutral switch, dismount the spark plugs and ground them and then move the control lever to WOT position or all the way forward.

 

[HydroGeek]

Moses was put in a basket in the Nile! He took that thing out for a spin and some skiing before his Force 85 developed carb problems and subsequently was found floating in the bulrushes by Pharaoh's daughter.