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[555]

Hi, I thought by moving it anticlockwise i would be advancing it, thereby reducing the retard setting. or am I getting in a muddle? Should i just move by 1mm anticlockwise? Getting to the stage of getting a trailer and heading West!

[555]

NEW TDC tool on its way, updates over the weekend. So just to be 100% i want the points to open as the piston gets to 0.8mm before TDC? How do i know which stroke its on?

[Bullet Whisperer]

Quote - 'Just been out to fettle, in the absence of the proper kit, or knowhow, i have retarded the ignition timing by moving the plate clockwise. I marked the point where it was at and moved it around by approx 2-3mm. bike starts and ticks over nicely'. - Moving it anticlockwise will indeed advance the ignition timing, but you seem to have retarded it, going by what you say. The full advance timing is more important [bobweights expanded] and should be 8 mm BTDC, if the engine is in a fairly standard state of tune. Use a bulb across the moving part of the points and earth, with the ignition on, for accuracy. The bulb will light when the points break open.

[Marko]

Hi Adrian you want time it with the ignition at the advanced setting. Have a look at the rockers, you'll know when its on the compression stroke as the inlet would have just closed, both valves closed. I wrote a lengthy reply yesterday evening but it got lost in cyberspace & I just couldn't be bothered to type it all out again, but the gist of it was do try & check your ignition timing with a strobe if you have one (or possibly a friend has one & can help you). I'm guessing your engine has not got any ignition timing marks? No problem: find the piston position BTDC and make some marks (tippex is ok but artists acrylic paint far better & stays there, but degrease the surface)on the alternator & rotor. You can then use the strobe to set up the timing perfectly. You mentioned your plug was black & that you don't need to use the choke when starting: that's usually an indication the carb is running rich...BUT don't mess with the carb until you have the ignition spot on otherwise its just a waste of time & effort. Sort the ignition out, come back when that's done and we'll sort the carb out - no black magic involved , pretty straightforward. best regards, good luck

[555]

BW - You have said 8mm BTDC, did you you miss the 0. off, looking at the technical notes on the site
" In this article we will cover static timing on distributor/points equipped Indian Enfield Bullets.
The standard retarded or static timing is 0.8mm (10 degrees), before top dead centre on both 350
and 500 Bullets."
On the retard / advance i think i have confused my self to what i have actually done,I have now put it back to where it was, which puts the nuts that you slacken off to move the plate central in the slots. Is that any clue?? I will be advancing the ignition by turning the plate back. Hopefully the TDC tool will make it all clear. I've seen how it works on the informative youtube. Work has now got in the way, so weekend spannering, hopefully dry so i can test.

[ric]

" The full advance timing is more important [bobweights expanded] and should be 8 mm BTDC, if the engine is in a fairly standard state of tune."

Nothing's missing.
it just so happens that in this case 8mm BTDC on full advance is the same as 0.8mm BTDC retarded assuming nothing is worn or out of spec. The full advance figure takes into account any wear that might be present. You can also use 32 degrees of full advance if you stick a degree disc on the end of the crank and strobe it.

[ric]

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[albert]

10 miles from Cambridge then Haywards of Girton must be your answer ?

[Adrian]

Hi Marko,



this is 555's thread, not mine! )



@ 555, don't forget about the inevitable slack/slop in the timing gear train when setting the ignition timing, wind the contact breaker's timing gear on anti-clockwise a little to take up the slack with the crank in the right position, being careful not to move the crank itself.



I must admit a trip to Haywards' sounds like a good idea.

A.

[John L]

If the bike starts readily from cold with no choke, sounds like it's set up too rich. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favour - take albert's suggestion and get the bike over to Haywards....