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Need help timing a CA

S

sflem849

Well-known Member
The distributer got messed up on my friends Allis CA during a project. I am trying to help set the distributer properly and I am having some troble.
The tractor has a coil ignition and is still 6v. Just let me know if you need any other background info.
The biggest problem I am having is where is cyl 1? From the sounds of the manual all I have to do it pull the #1 plug, wait for pressure, and look for the fire mark on the flywheel. Then I turn it until I see the DC.
I turned the engine until the first cyl (The one closest to the front/radiator) was at TDC. Then when looking at the rotor it was pointing towards the rear most cylinder's wire. This leads me to believe #1 may be the rear cyl??? Once I get that part straight it sounds pretty easy.
Any tips or parts I am missing would be great. Thanks again!
 
Cylinders are #1 by the radiator and from there back 2, 3,4. As for getting #1 up to TDC it is there 2 times for each cycle of the engine so if you time it and you find it does not run switch the plug wires 180 on the cap and it probably will run. Getting them 180 out is a common mistake and even people who have been doing it for years do that once in a while. And yes the timing marks will show up both times
 
when rotating the motor, put somebodys finger over the front spark plug hole. You can fee compression coming up. Now your on the right stroke. Turn the motor till you get to TDC. THe distributor rotor will point at #1 plug wire. Make sure the rotor is in the retard position, not advance (advance points at the FIRE mark). You need the points to just start to open at the TDC. Rotate the distributor housing untill you see the point open and lock it there. The fireing order is 1-2-4-3. Rotate the motor slightly and see which way the distributor rotates in the cap and install the wires that way.
 
We did the finger trick. You could feel the compression really well so we had to be on the compression stroke. Not really sure why the rotor was pointing to #4.

What do you mean "make sure the rotor is in the retard position?"

I had a feeling the Allis was just like my Farmalls, but then there was a big 2 cast right below #3 so I thought it may be the reverse.
 
Rotor turns clock ways. You can place the number one wire anywhere as long as the next wire clock ways goes to number two, then four then three, but the correct position would on the right to the back standing in front of the distributor. Static timing is done at CENTER or TDC. You can find the flywheel marked both ways. The Fire line is 30 degrees advanced. The distributor has a mechanical advance that will cause the engine to fire at the fire line when running. When running and if you would use a timing light you would see the FIRE line in the center of the inspection hole when properly timed.
 
That makes sense. That would also be why it wouldn't run. My neighbor hired a local mechanic to come and make ends meet of it. He ended up putting #1 at TDC and then putting the wires on accordingly.
The problem is the stupid I&T manual has the firing order wrong for the battery ignition CA. The book says it is different than the mag tractors, but the AC operators/service manul say it is the same for mags and battery ignition. I've got to tell you, the AC manual is correct and the I&T manual is better used as kindling in the wood burner.
I HATE I&T MANUALS!!!
 
sflem, you can rotate the distributor HOUSING and change the point at which the point opens and spark occurs. ... you can rotate the distributor shaft inside the housing to get the advamce to work. Static position, it should be pointed at the plug wire when crank is at TDC. Turn the rotor shaft backward (retard) to make sure it is against the stop.. you can also turn the rotor shaft forward (advance) and the point will open when you are on the "FIRE" mark on the crank... as Dick said, you normally time it to the TDC (retard). then check with a timing light with the motor running and it will flash at the FIRE mark. I normaly rotate the rotor to the advance positon and check it at FIRE. after i set i properly at the TDC.
 
The firing order is determined by the way the camshaft is cast and ground. It has nothing to do with the distributor or magneto. You can always find the firing order for any engine with the valve covers off. Starting with number one cylinder at TDC and turning the engine until both valves are in the up position or closed position. Slowly turning the engine watching for the next intake and exhaust valves to be in the up position and making that cylinder number two. Number each next set of valves to close up to as many cylinders that the engine has.
 
(quoted from post at 09:20:59 04/29/11) The firing order is determined by the way the camshaft is cast and ground. It has nothing to do with the distributor or magneto. You can always find the firing order for any engine with the valve covers off. Starting with number one cylinder at TDC and turning the engine until both valves are in the up position or closed position. Slowly turning the engine watching for the next intake and exhaust valves to be in the up position and making that cylinder number two. Number each next set of valves to close up to as many cylinders that the engine has.
Click to expand...

See, you say that now. If you were to read the I&T manual it would tell you there was a different cam in the mag vs distributor. I guess it was just a typo.
I turned the engine with the hand crank and that is what made me say HEY! The book is wrong!!! We need to go 1,2,4,3.
 
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