To20 timings marks again

tmichels63 · Jun 4, 2021

Hello all,
Been a fairweathered member here for sometime, enjoy the tractors but don't usually have much help for most, which leads me to the start of yet another discussion of a topic that has been killed many times. I have a To20 with a missing serial plate. I am having a geck of a time getting it timed, my engine block does not have a sight window or a drill hole for finding DC. I removed the starter and i do have the timing marks on the flywheel. I have done the thumb overthe #1 several times, it just doesn't seem accurate. I am going to put on a picture of my starter area, with the sight area brushed down to the cast. Can someone help me with another procedure for timing it? Thanks Tim

Steve@Advance · Jun 4, 2021

Doing the thumb over the #1 plug hole will get you on the #1 compression stroke. Once you feel compression, you know the #1 is coming up on compression.

Knowing the design of a 4 cylinder engine, realize when 2 cylinders are at top, the other 2 are at bottom, so there is a feel to it. When the engine is crossing over the up-down position, there will be a point where hand turning the front pulley will feel the easiest. Rock the engine back and forth a few times, you will feel the sweet spot where you know it's pretty close to TDC. Turn it CCW a few degrees, drop in the distributor with the rotor pointing to #1. Turn the distributor housing CCW until the points are closed, then rotate it CW until the points break.

That should have it close enough to start. Once it's running, you can adjust the timing by ear. Get it so it starts without kicking back, runs under heavy load without clattering, starts well, makes good power, idles smoothly. It's a low power, low compression, well built engine, it doesn't have to be perfect.

Duner Wi · Jun 5, 2021

This may be of some help. Photos from John UK and everything. Unless someone changed the front pulley and timing cover you should have timing marks. Please let us know what you find.

https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=957385

tmichels63 · Jun 7, 2021

Thank you for replying, i will set it the way you have advised and be happy with its reliable performance. I will admit i was hoping for a reason why mine is missing the window or dc drill hole, but just having it performing well is all that matters..

Thanks again
Tim

To20 timings marks again

tmichels63

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Duner Wi

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tmichels63

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