timing issue

illbdipt

Member
hi all, brought home a 1951 john deere a, it runs ok. wanted to check the timing and discovered the plug wires on the delco-remy distributor are reversed.

must be installed 180 degress out ? would it run better if dist. installed correctly ? not sure

thanks for any info
 
That's does not matter one bit. As long as the plug wires are on it so each cylinder fires when they should you can have it correct or 180 and still run exactly the same. I put a rebuilt mag on my 1935 B and got it on 180 out and I have not bothered to change it since it does not matter
 
does not where the plug wires sits in distributor,but engines from factory do have a number 1 spot on the distributer. every engine has number 1 starting spot. to make things look neat and tidy wires should be placed where they were inteaded to be. plus it makes for easy checking on the firing order. plus it keeps mechanic's on the same page.
 

thanks, i have to read up on it more . i did static time it according to manual, but advancing or retarding it an inch in either direction has little effect on the way it runs .
 
Have to say I can see both points of view on where the plugs wires should be on a two cylinder engine. As long as it works I guess it is Okay. Have to add I prefer it to be the way it should be by the book especially if you own more than one tractor. My only concession was to change both my twin cylinders to negative ground.
 
Well I onw way more then one but I only have 1 2 cylinder that runs. As for - ground unless you have an alternator doing that can cause problems with the V.R. if there the new solid state ones
 
No I did not miss you point. Only way that is correct is if the cap be it 2 cylinder or 8 is marked as to which one is #1
 
Many times if does nothing if you advance it or retard it unless it is running at full RPMs and even then on a slow engine like the JD 2 cylinder it is hard to tell
 
that is not true. very few manufacturers number which tower is number one on the cap. it goes by position. examples are: the 4 cyl. ihc engine is always at 2:00 position, the magneto tractor use the same position. the chevy 350 engine's position for number one is at 7:00 position right by the points window. ford has number one position at rear of engine . every manufactureer has their own #1 position for their engines and when leaving factory all #1 cyl. wires are in the exact same spot on distributor on every vehicle or tractor. BUT of course you can put #1 wire any place you want but it is not correct and will run just as good as factory position.
 
why do you keep arguing just to argue?.. then repeat the same thing i just said. i just told u it dont matter where #1 goes but it is not correct from factory... got it?
 
Doesn't matter it will still run the exact same way all you did was waste some time
 
lettered and first numbered gas and all fuel Waterloo Deere have a waste spark ignition. They fire on both the compression and on the exhaust stroke . Hence wires can be swapped .
 
we all know that! as i said u missed my point. all i was trying to get across is the factor has a position on the distributor for number one cyl. and it appears this guy wants it like factory. so just relax and let him do his thing. he is more right than you, because you dont even know this. all i did was print a complete correct answer and your arguing about it not being correct. so go put your hat on backwards as i would tell my guys... that way you dont know if your coming or going.
every engine that leaves the factory has the plug wire in the same spot on every distributor, not like your saying. and we all know it makes no difference on engine performance when farmers or hillbillies change the wires positions.
 

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