Hitchcocks Forum

IGNITION SET UP ON TWINS?

1) Hi all the manuals state to set the timing up on the left hand cylinder is there a reason for this ?

2) If setting the valve timing up correct but then find that the distributor sprocket is 180deg out is it ok to just swap the leads to the other cylinder rather than remove the timing cover and take chain of the distributor to reposition the rotor ?

3) Looking into the timing cover the distributor sprocket and rotor turn clock wise which contact in the distributor cap if you was still looking into the timing cover would the left side plug lead be ?. Would it be the contact in the cap on the right at ( 3 o'clock or on the left at 9 o'clock )

Thanks for any info
Duffel

Hi Duffel, no it doesn't matter which side you time it on and you can swap the HT leads if you've done it wrong. The reason for timing on the left is probably that this then means you can see both the points and the piston position from the same side. Since you have to go round to the right to set the sprocket on it's taper anyway this doesn't seem to be much help! I always get an assistant to help me for peace of mind, my partner is quite good at it now! Finally,you don't say which mag you have, SR2 or K2F?Not that it really matters!
REgards, Mark

Thank you Mark for the info I should have said I was refering to a distributor as fitted to a Meteor Minor when I queried which segment in the cap the rotor should be pointing to on the left hand Cylinder
Duffel

Duffel,
With the distributor setup I find easier to work on the right hand side because you can have the timing cover off, line your cam timing marks up and set the piston on the right hand side at TDC comp stroke and then drop the dizzy into the correct place without ever having to go near the left hand side.

Thanks Norm I will try that way next time I remove the timing cover.Can you tell me with the distributor horizontal and name plate at the top with the rotation arrow pointing clockwise what is the correct side of the cap should the plug lead be coming from to fire say on the right hand cylinder (timing side) would it be the plug lead connectionin the cap nearest the cylinder or the lead furthest away ?

Duffel,
I don't think it matters which way you set it up to so long as the piston that is on compression stroke is the one you run the lead to that is lined up with the rotor button to match the dizzy cap/lead I have always used the plug lead on the left side of the cap to fire the right hand cylinder but that is because that is the way it was when I got it so I have continued with this setup. I marked the dizzy body with a paint pen so that anytime I remove the Dizzy I can refit it back to the mark, remembering if you do this it also must be TDC right hand cylinder. Make sure the advance/retard bob weights are working ok and that the gear on the bottom of the dizzy is pinned tight, because slop here will mess with the timing

Hi Norm thats good replies have sorted my queries out I will now be able to check things out with confidence and a reference on the notes to look back on also thanks to Mark on the mag settings as I also have an Enfield fitted with a mag
Duffel