Timing on 9N Ford

I have a 1938 9N Ford. Seems to be in good shape overall. Someone did a good job rebuilding I think. The tractor is part of a project called Living Energy Farm. Our intent is to convert it to woodgas. One trick with woodgas is that one needs to advance the timing as the woodgas is slower burning than gasoline. I see in the manual that there is not a timing mark on the crankshaft (?). Is it possible to advance the timing on this tractor? I am accustomed to the standard rotation of the distributor to adjust timing as is common on older engines, but this one seems different. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Alexis
 
Alexis........the weird 4-nipple frontmount dizzy is timed to 1/4" per picture in I&T FO-4 and points are set to 0.015"; and recommended sparkies are AutoLite 437's at 0.025".

HOWSOMEVERS: there is an external screwdriver timing adjust on the left side of the dizzy body. You doubt? Go look. When the LOW COMPRESSION (6.0:1) 1939 flathead engine was designed, it was designed for 70-octaine gasoline. The quality of gas was variable and the farmer could change the timing of the 4-nipple dizzy by diddlin' the external timing adjust. I'm not certain how much retard the external screw adjust was, but I'm thinkin' 6*-retard. Does this sound like what yer lookin' fer???

And surprizingly enuff, during WW2, Colman white gas was more readily available than rationed 70-octane. You just retarded yer dizzy.

You do know ittza 2-bolt, 15-min job to remove yer 4-nipple dizzy, don't you? Just un-snapple yer capple and letter dangle. Carry yer dizzy into the kitchen table and change/adjust yer points (0.015"). Installation is a reversal of the removal ...except... finger start the 2-bolts and then install yer rotor. Now twist yer rotor so the OFFSET tang drive fits the OFFSET camshaft drive slot. Now tighten yer 2-bolts and re-snapple yer capple. Simple, eh?

Remember to "polish" the INVISIBLE corrosion from between the points (0.015") after installation and adjustment. Me? I use a clean $1-bill clamped between the points and pull. Iff'n yer really cheap, tear a strip from HEAVY brown paper grocery sack and use that.

Recommend you squander $25 (cheap) for the I&T FO-4 manual. It even has pictures fer the reading challenged. ........Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister
 
check yyer service mamul. you static time a front mount ont he bench as Dell said.

then you have preciuos little adjustment via the screw on the side.

good luck

wood gasification huh?
 
(quoted from post at 11:24:41 02/21/13) i'm impressed it has that much!
hen handling the adjuster, it seems like such a small movement (+/- 0.2 inch) or =/- 6 distributor degrees.
 
What Dell says. There is no rotating that distributor. You need to take a look at the I&T FO$ manual. There is a 3 degree or so adjustment of the timing and it will be clear to you once you look at the manual and have the distributor in your hand.
 

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