Sprung for a cheap timing light, strobe only type. RPMs I can get from new Proofmeter. (having fixed the issue with the undersized drive end and tab, unaware there is an adapter for sale. But I digress ....) Almost nothing goes smoothly for me, and this was no different. Reasons;
1) The numbers on the flywheel were not readable. Even after
using a couple means of cleaning the area visible thru the
peephole, it was all a blur. Two things:
a) I could at least tell that the values were jumping within
about a 5 - 7 degree range, at least according to the
firing of the strobe light.
b) perhaps a better timing lite would emit a shorter burst
of light, better for freezing the markings for a clearer
view of them.?
2) Our "Hey Jube" (that"s mine! You can"t use it! Ha) would
stall at anything below 625 RPMs. That"s a problem since
youre supposed to set the timing to 8* BTDC, when at a
450-475 RPM idle.
I tried removing the oil cup from the air filter, in case of poor suction. It"s not the fuel cap vent issue that I just learned of. There was at least 3" of fuel in the tank, so though gravity-fed
I can"t see any causes there. The stalling was instant when dropping the RPMs, vs. any lag time taken to respond to any poor fuel supply concern.
Fast forward, having added extra scored markings at 5, 8, and 20 degrees for visibility; and since I can"t get the RPMs below 625, where the ideal is 8* BTDC @ 475 ....... And,
you know the value is going to rise as the RPMs rise, then;
*> I set the timing to around 10* BTDC / @ 625 RPMs.
I then upped the throttle to reach 1200 RPMs, at which the manual shows a max. acceptable of about 20 dgrs. Again the best views I got were shaky, but I was getting a high end value of about 22 dgrs. IF I were to lower that reading, it"s nearly certain that my reading at 675 RPMs might fall below the ideal for 475 RPMs.
3) have I reached an OK balance? Or better to achieve
the advised degrees for 1200 RPMs ? (I"m not good
with pushing the ol" Jube to 2000)
4) Do I go back to the lowest RPMs without stalling, and
just go by ear?
5) is over-heating a concern when the timing in degrees
is too low, too high.? Or both?
An FYI; I went out a mowed some thick, overgrown pasture grass for a solid 1.5 hrs. after timing set as noted above (after
"Fast forward" notes. The water temp eventually reached a scant 1/8th" from red. It was a lot of tough mowing, but I tried to keep her moving smoothly.
I also upped it to 1700 RPMs, 200 above PTO minimum. That OK? Points being it never really over-heated, and seemed to run smooth as can be expected for an old girl. I reminded myself that its still only a 26 HP (?) tractor, and suppose its expected to bog down in the thick and tall grass. Agreed?
I know I"ve posed many points/ questions. Anything answered or commented on is appreciated.
1) The numbers on the flywheel were not readable. Even after
using a couple means of cleaning the area visible thru the
peephole, it was all a blur. Two things:
a) I could at least tell that the values were jumping within
about a 5 - 7 degree range, at least according to the
firing of the strobe light.
b) perhaps a better timing lite would emit a shorter burst
of light, better for freezing the markings for a clearer
view of them.?
2) Our "Hey Jube" (that"s mine! You can"t use it! Ha) would
stall at anything below 625 RPMs. That"s a problem since
youre supposed to set the timing to 8* BTDC, when at a
450-475 RPM idle.
I tried removing the oil cup from the air filter, in case of poor suction. It"s not the fuel cap vent issue that I just learned of. There was at least 3" of fuel in the tank, so though gravity-fed
I can"t see any causes there. The stalling was instant when dropping the RPMs, vs. any lag time taken to respond to any poor fuel supply concern.
Fast forward, having added extra scored markings at 5, 8, and 20 degrees for visibility; and since I can"t get the RPMs below 625, where the ideal is 8* BTDC @ 475 ....... And,
you know the value is going to rise as the RPMs rise, then;
*> I set the timing to around 10* BTDC / @ 625 RPMs.
I then upped the throttle to reach 1200 RPMs, at which the manual shows a max. acceptable of about 20 dgrs. Again the best views I got were shaky, but I was getting a high end value of about 22 dgrs. IF I were to lower that reading, it"s nearly certain that my reading at 675 RPMs might fall below the ideal for 475 RPMs.
3) have I reached an OK balance? Or better to achieve
the advised degrees for 1200 RPMs ? (I"m not good
with pushing the ol" Jube to 2000)
4) Do I go back to the lowest RPMs without stalling, and
just go by ear?
5) is over-heating a concern when the timing in degrees
is too low, too high.? Or both?
An FYI; I went out a mowed some thick, overgrown pasture grass for a solid 1.5 hrs. after timing set as noted above (after
"Fast forward" notes. The water temp eventually reached a scant 1/8th" from red. It was a lot of tough mowing, but I tried to keep her moving smoothly.
I also upped it to 1700 RPMs, 200 above PTO minimum. That OK? Points being it never really over-heated, and seemed to run smooth as can be expected for an old girl. I reminded myself that its still only a 26 HP (?) tractor, and suppose its expected to bog down in the thick and tall grass. Agreed?
I know I"ve posed many points/ questions. Anything answered or commented on is appreciated.