wd 45 ignition timing

glennster

Well-known Member
on the later mid 50's wd45with a delco distributor, do you time the engine static on tdc (engine off) with a test light, or at wot engine running with a timing light? set it static with a test light, and engine runs rough, needed to turn the distributor about 1/2 to 3/4 inch clockwise to get it to smooth out.
 
Is the timing mark "TDC" or "spark"?

If "spark" it would be typically about 6º BTDC, as a static timing mark for when the points just "break" when slowly barring the engine over, and running timing as checked with a light is probably 20º earlier than that, yet. Is there a "running timing"/advance mark?

I will look at the shop manual later and see how much detail it gives.

Also, even if the advance is "free"/snaps back, total advance or advance curve could be messed up vs. what the engine requires to run at it's best.
 
the only mark i found on the flywheel is a line with the letter "f". there is an inspection cover you remove, and also a bolt comes out and you site thru the center of the bolt hole. its a friends tractor, he's 81.
 
All four cycle engines are timed static at TDC at number one cylinder on the compression stroke. If your distributor advance is not broken it must have the wrong degree of advance for your engine. If it runs good the way you have it and still starts good I wouldn't worry about it.
Any advance problems I have had when running smooth would not start well. When I set it to start good it would run rough. I would take the plate out under the points and check the advance if it gives you more problems though. It is not a complicated chore.
 
The F or FIRE line is at the correct running advance. If you have the F at the timing light your in time. The B's and C's have a 30° advance. I think the WD45 is slightly different but would need to look it up.
 
I decided to look it up and it is 30° advance for the WD45 also.

Allis marked the flywheel advance as FIRE or some F to make it easy to time a magneto. If you try to set a magneto at TDC the impulse spring would be wound and would unwind when you tried to get the drive lugs to mesh. At top dead center the drive lugs are horizontal and will snap the magneto for fire when just going past horizontal. I have found flywheels for early B's that was void of a TDC line also. Most have both.
 
If the engine is apart, or the distributor is off, then, obviously you would static time it. But then it's best to run it wide open and set it to the fire, or advance mark. Have someone work the throttle while you're under there(nice arrangement huh?)and you should be able to see the timing change against the flywheel. Often it won't back all the way off to TDC, but, as Dick says, if it starts OK, and, you can see some timing change, I wouldn't worry about it.
 

Be happy with TDC at Idle or static..

You don't want any pre-ignition in a WD-45 and they will bear down on a load very well without going for that last ounce

or oomph...make it LAST and be Happy..!!

Ron.
 

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