1944 B Timing

I have had to overhaul my governor due to wear. Originally, I only removed the governor because the timing was off and found that the governor was worn out.

I have finally got it reassembled and now I am in process of timing.

When I get to top dead center, the mag strikes just before TDC or I think this is what is happening. I followed the book and had the mag rotated all the way forward.

Is this normal or should I expect now to find something else wrong?

My coupler is horizontal and the timing marks are aligned on the camshaft/ governor shaft.

I should add that the mag is impulsing just before the marks on the flywheel/ transmission are aligned.

I have not tried to start it yet.

This tractor was running before I dismantled the governor. It would backfire now and then and snort every once in a while at low rpm.

For best starting, especially hand crankers, she needs to snap impulse right at TDC, if before she kicks back if after startigns not as good. If the flywheels on the right spline, cam to crank are in time, governor to cam is in time, when the Flywheels Left Hand Impulse is at 3 o clock (left piston at TDC) the open female drive slot in govenor shaft end where mag mates should be flat horizontal fore n aft......

When all was new and in time and the mags lag angle n points were all correct, the mag would be pretty well straight up in the middle of its adjustment window at that time.

If you loosen the bolts and rotate the mag forward CW that retards BOTH the start impulse as well as the run timing. Rotate it backwards CCW it advances BOTH. When you loosen the 4 screws on the mags rear and adjust the lag angle that affects start impule timing ONLY no affect on run time advance.

I first set the rear lag angle and fine tune by mag rotation till she snaps at TDC (LHI at 3 o clock by mark) then use a timing light and as long as she runs from 20 to 30 advance I let her go. My friend the late Duane Larson set the run time EXACTLY where he wanted it then kept adjustign teh lag angle till she snapped at TDC.

If you first set the mag full retard CW,,,,,,,slowly turn flywheel to LHI 3 o clock and stop,,,,,,,,,,slowly turn mag advance CCW till she snaps, thats fairly close to correct snap impulse timing........

Got it?????????

John T

Sounds like it is one tooth off in the gears.

John T.

That's a lot to digest for a relative beginner. My governor was out of time. Is there a possibility that something else is out of time?

I am rotating the flywheel around (CCW facing the flywheel - I hope that is correct). The mag seems to impulse just before I can get the marks lined up, or possibly right when they are lined up-its hard to tell)

As I stated before, this tractor was running when I tore it all down. All be it not all that well.

The timing mark is at 3 oclock on the flywheel.

I had my mag just rebuilt by a professional. From what you are telling me, there could be an adjustment that needs to made to the mag.

Teddy,

Where would it be one tooth off?

Between the cam & governor gear.

It was definitely off, but I corrected that. That was the reason that I went into it to begin with.

I got it cranked today. It sounds pretty good, but will backfire again now and then. I guess something is still out of time, but it cranks very easy and seems to run pretty well otherwise.

"My governor was out of time. Is there a possibility that something else is out of time?"

YES, most likey simply the mag versus all that other stuff. Again, Flywheels LHI at 3 o clock by mark,,,,,,Left piston at TDC,,,,,,,Open female slot in governor shaft end (where mag mates) horizontal fore n aft,,,,,,,,,Adjust mag so it snaps/impulses exactly then,,,,,,,Forward CW retards, backwards CCW advances.


"I am rotating the flywheel around (CCW facing the flywheel - I hope that is correct)."

YES

"The mag seems to impulse just before I can get the marks lined up, or possibly right when they are lined up-its hard to tell)"

If it snaps impulses BEFORE then it needs retarded, losen and rotate forward CW. Ideally you may have to go at mags rear and adjust the lag angle to accomplish that if the above dont get it there. That adjusts ONLY the lag angle and snap impulse timing NOT run timing



"I had my mag just rebuilt by a professional. From what you are telling me, there could be an adjustment that needs to made to the mag."

It may well need the rear lag angle adjusted, perhaps nothing more, its not serious, just needs some attention. As I stated when all was new and perfect and lag angle set correct the snap would occur right when the mag is straight up n down in the middle of that adjustment window.

John T

Backfiring is hardly ever a timing issue, it is for the most part always a lean mixture issue. At least on these two bangers it turns out. Try enriching the idle mixture screw a good bit and watch that backfire go completely away as you just begin to chuff the faintest wisps of black smoke.
I guarantee it!!

What happens is not a too early an ignition at all, but one that doesn't even happen until it's way way too late, when the exhaust valve is opening. The other cylinder is lighting the missed one's contents as it's pushed into the muffler. It didn't catch fire in it's own cylinder because it was too lean, but it will burn when exposed to fire from the working cylinder. The fire will even run backwards thru the opening exhaust valve and set off that mostly confined charge and make a real ker-bang out of it on occasion. It's not really backfiring at all, because if it did that you would get smoke and gasoline spray out of your air cleaner stack and the engine would stall because the massive air flow thru the carb backwards would be a situation that would be unrecoverable except at highest RPMs. Gas would be blown out the carb vents as well and would drip all over.

It does sound like a backfire sure enough, but it really isn't one at all. It's a complete dead miss getting burnt in the muffler for the most part. But the right mixture will catch fire just like it's supposed to and more importantly WHEN it's supposed to.