Owatonna Mustang 1700

I have an old Mustang 1700 skidsteer with the v-4 Ford liquid cooled engine and variable speed drive. I had an issue where something is wrong with the output shaft that couples to the gearbox coupling. Whatever happened, I think it also caused the engine to get out of time. Turns over fine and has spark. I'm looking for timing information for that engine. Once I get it running, I will figure out the output shaft issue. I will take suggestions there as well. Thanks.

The distributor would have to be moved to alter the timing,what ignition system has it got,conventional with points or electronic,fuel injection or carburettor?,the front pulley will have a tiny vee machined in the rim,there should be a raised pointer on the front timing cover,when the engine is on compression stroke on #1 cylinder and the two marks line up the rotor in the distributor should be pointing at #1 plug lead,the distributor housing where the cap sits usually has a mark,there should be another line on the rotor,its only a rough guide,a timing light should be used to fine tune it,if it's got points they need to be clean and have the correct gap,why do you think the timing is out is it spitting back when you turn it over,if not it is unlikely the timing is out,if you have one of those timing lights that go from the plug lead to the plug #1 cylinder,highlight the vee notch on the pulley with chalk or white paint (I use Tipp-ex) point the strobe at the spot where the match mark is on the cover and get a helper to turn the engine over on the starter,you should see the white mark on the pulley it should be in line with the cover mark,if its not loosen the distributor clamp bolt just enough that you can move it,turn the engine over again and move the distributor till the marks line up and tighten the clamp bolt.see what you find.
AJ

check your fuel supply. sounds like your not getting gas to it. mine had an electronic fuel pump on it. those fuel pumps on the motors weren't very good. every so often I would have to blow back though the fuel line I guess from crud building up over the years. was a pretty good skid loader though/

Those were a really nice industrial engine.I can't understand how it could get out of time from something happening downstream from the output.You can find that engine in old Saabs and some early Mercury Capris.They were somewhat smogged though,co they might be a little choked up for industrial use.I worked in a junkyard in 1976 that hauled a half dozen little rubbish compactors in.They all had those engines in them.

(quoted from post at 20:45:41 07/29/18) Those were a really nice industrial engine.I can't understand how it could get out of time from something happening downstream from the output.You can find that engine in old Saabs and some early Mercury Capris.They were somewhat smogged though,co they might be a little choked up for industrial use.I worked in a junkyard in 1976 that hauled a half dozen little rubbish compactors in.They all had those engines in them.

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So the good news, got the engine running, and runs good. Now the bad, the drive ring (part 420-18211) on the back of the engine that drives the output shaft is broken. The back plate that is riveted on that hold the springs in place is broken in multiple places. I'm compiling a list of salvage yards to call, but if anyone has a "go to" source I'll take suggestions. I have all the springs, and the main plate is OK. As a second option I may consider having a new back plate made and bolt or rivet back together.