H timing/distributor question

Hello all,

While troubleshooting some ignition issues, I found that my H didn't seem "normal". After some research, I found a thread with the below quote from mkirsch:

(reply to post at 15:09:54 08/11/14)
Now to confuse things: If you decided the REAR cylinder was #1, and timed the ignition to the rear cylinder at top-dead-center on the compression stroke, it would still run just fine.

Currently, the distributor is turned with #1 at the 11:30 position instead of at the 1:30 position, and it is wired (starting @ 1:30) 3, 4, 2, 1.

That is how my tractor is setup.... I guess some previous owner thought that Cylinder 1 was towards the back. Anyway, I don't think that is contributing to my ignition problem, but I'm wondering if it is worth correcting?

It ran like this for who knows how long but changing it may avoid any future confusion...

any suggestions are welcome.

thanks!

--b
 
"Clock position" of #1 and the other wires does NOT matter so long as #1 gets fired at the correct time and others follow in firing order sequence.

The factory had a "standard" way of setting up the ignition wiring so every new tractor was the same, and it's good practice to keep the wires in that arrangement when repairs are made (distributor removed and replaced), but it doesn't make the engine run and better than yours will now, if ignition timing og #1 is to "spec".

Instead of observing the firing order from where #1 is "supposed to be", simply start at #1, then (CW) 3 - 4 - 2.
 
i'd set it back to where its supposed to be. may not help in the short term, but down the road, it could. problem with the old machines is a lot of barnyard repairs were done and who knows what was changed. a few years ago a fella on here was having ignition problems on a farmall something gasser. ran but never quite right. tried everything. then he discovered someone had replaced the 4 cylinder distributor with a 6 cyl i-h distributor. one of my farmall m's always ran rich no matter how the main load was set. finally discovered someone in the past replaced the main load screw with one out of another tractor. it was too short to reach the seat to lean it out. quick trip to the friendly case i-h dealer and parting with 50 some odd dollars for the assembly and im back in businss.
 
factory position is #1 at 2 oclock. it does not
matter where #1 starts on the dist cap , as you can
time #1 in any position you want. but all tractors and
vehicles have a certain spot from factory. backyard
mechanic's do not know this most times.
i just have a habit of looking at distributors on
these old ih's and can tell if things are set to
factory positions. #1 wire at 2 oclock and the little
point screw should be sitting right at 3 oclock when
things are timed correctly.
 
I learned a lesson in paying attention to how they distributors are install when swapping cap and wires between two of out Hs. When I tried to start the one with the odd distributor position it backfired and split the muffler wide open. Needless to say but that I changed tge distributor position so that all three tractors were the same.
 
Good advice from everyone, thanks for your help, I appreciate it!

I think I will leave it for now, but will likely set it to "factory" at some point in the future.

thanks!

--b
 

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