advance timing?

labjack · Jun 19, 2016

Which direction do you turn the distributor to advance the timing? Tractor's been running a little on the hot side and hoping this might cool it down a little. How much do you have to tweak the timing to make a difference in that regard? Ford 4000(4cyl) gasser.
Thanks, Mark

Bob · Jun 19, 2016

Turn it AGAINST the direction the rotor rotates when the engine is cranking.

A slight (2?, for example) movement of the distributor means 4? of spark advance measure at the crankshaft.

In other words, a little does a LOT.

Dean · Jun 19, 2016

CCW.

Retarded timing will result in hot exhaust temperature and reduced power.

Beg, borrow or steal a timing light and set the timing to 4 degrees BTDC at 400 RPM or less.

Dean

grandpa Love · Jun 19, 2016

Laugh if you want to but Harbor Freight has a simple timing light for less than 20 bucks. If you only gonna use it a few times their stuff works fine. Now for every day working for a living tools......

labjack · Jun 19, 2016

Well, the reason I want to try this is when using the tractor(brushhogging recently) the temp gauge will get into the red zone. It doesn't max out but does get into the red zone, which I assume isn't where it should be. Can't be sure the gauge is working right, though. I do have a digital thermo gun and this weekend when it got into the red zone I checked the temp of the upper and lower radiator hoses. Got @185?upper and @176?lower. Block showed a little over 200?. Muffler I think was about 750?. So that sounds ok to me but not sure those are the right places to check. Any help in that regard would be appreciated.

Dean · Jun 20, 2016

Lower radiator hose temperature sounds high.

Verify that the radiator core is not clogged with debris.

Dean

labjack · Jun 20, 2016

Just put a new radiator, hoses, water pump, and thermostat on last winter. What should the lower hose temp be?

Dean · Jun 20, 2016

It depends upon several factors but there is not much difference between the upper and lower temperatures.

Again, verify that the core is not clogged with mowing debris.

Dean

labjack · Jun 20, 2016

Actually the upper hose was the higher reading. Externally the core is pretty clean. I clean it with a whisk broom after every use, sometimes during use too, if it gets too dirty. What do you consider a good operating temp in 90? outside weather based on hose temps?

Dean · Jun 20, 2016

Who knows. Too many variables but the temperature of the coolant in the lower hose should be considerably cooler than that in the upper hose. If it is not, I still suspect a debris clogged core.

Blow it out with compressed air.

Dean

old · Jun 20, 2016

A broom is not good enough when it comes to cleaning a radiator. Dust and dirt build up between the fins and a broom will not begin to touch it all you need to spray it out with a garden hose so as to wash out the dirt that builds up in the radiator.

labjack · Jun 21, 2016

Ok, will try cleaning it out, thanks for the advice.

sotxbill · Jun 21, 2016

Look for at least 20 degrees difference from top to bottom...

do not bend the fins with too much pressure... I use my thumb over the hose end to get just enough squirt to push the water through the core and clean them out... should be able to see daylight through the fins... tractor radiators use an industrial core, meaning that the tubes are not staggered and allow easier cleaning.... cars use staggered tubes and are not easily cleaned of chaff and dirt.

advance timing?

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