SA 200 timing

I installed electronic timing on my welder. Trying to set timing. No 1 cylinder next to radiator. Any suggestions? I followed the instructions and it does not start. The system is firing.

You could be firing 360 degrees off, on TDC between exhaust and intake strokes.

If you had the distributor out, it could be out of time.

To get #1 at TDC compression, remove the spark plug, hand turn the engine while holding your finger over the plug hole. When you feel compression, it is coming up on compression stroke.

If there is a timing mark, turn the engine the direction it will be running, stop at the timing mark, which should be just a few degrees before TDC, or at TDC, depending on the model. Either way, it will be close enough to start...

Now look at the distributor. With the rotor on, turn the distributor the direction it will be turning in the engine until the rotor is just coming up to the #1 terminal inside the cap. You can sit the cap on the distributor, follow the #1 terminal straight down, put a mark on the housing, use the mark to align the rotor.

Hold the rotor in position, install the distributor. Be sure it seats fully. Some drive the oil pump, be sure that is engaged. If there is a spiral on the gear, take that into consideration as you seat it.

Connect the wiring, turn on the ignition. Turn the distributor housing a few degrees the same way the rotor will turn when running. Then slowly turn it back, the opposite direction the rotor turns until the coil fires. Stop turning when the coil fires. You may need to do this several times until you get it right. Some electronics need to be turned at a minimum speed to make a spark, so keep turning it until you feel good about it, then snug it down. The engine is now "static timed".

You can also do the spark test with the cap on and check the spark at the plug wire. Once you know the spark is making it to the plugs, and the wires are in the correct order, it should start. You can then set the timing per the specs, which will be the same as it was with points.

If by chance it is getting spark from the coil but not to the plugs, the spark could be occurring when the rotor is between the cap terminals. If that is happening, review the installation of the electronic kit. If all looks well, try calling the mfg, they can talk you through it.

i just did the same thing to my welder with petronix ignition. if i remember, the distributer only goes in one position as it engages on a flat on the shaft. i basically did what the post above talks about, but i used a volt meter to see when the "box" fired when i rotated the distributer. lot easier to watch the points open and close to set distributer, but wouldn't go back to points. welder runs much better.