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Tractor Pulling Discussion Forum

Hidden H.P. and Spark Advance

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Mopower

09-09-2004 05:43:12




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Distributor tuning has been an issue on my ind lately and one that I have not chatted much about with more experienced pullers. How much difference can be made by changing the timing curve and how does one know just what to change. I'm a novice in this area and usually tune by ear or by timing light on my old crusty MM tractors. Do these things change with wear and time too?




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buickanddeere

09-11-2004 08:19:52




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 Re: Hidden H.P. and Spark Advance in reply to Mopower, 09-09-2004 05:43:12  
There is an ideal point to achieve max average cylinder pressure after top dead center vs average pressure before top dead center. Those very last couple of degrees of advance gainlittle to no HP and just make the engine prone to detonation. As the mixture is now really getting a good burn on prior to TDC. Ideal timing also depends on air temp, humidity, pressure and air/fuel ratio. With a mechanical system timing is a compromise at best.

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G-MAN

09-09-2004 07:54:07




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 Re: Hidden H.P. and Spark Advance in reply to Mopower, 09-09-2004 05:43:12  
Yes, timing will change some with wear, particularly if you're still running points. And yes, there is quite a bit of hidden power to be found in tweaking the timing. It doesn't matter if you're dealing with old tractors or a 350 Chevy. Most hot-rodders recurve their distributors to put in full advance (static timing plus the advance gained by the vacuum and/or centrifugal advance) earlier in the RPM range. A lot do away with the vacuum advance completely, but that isn't an issue on old tractors, since they only run centrifugal advance. You could have your distributors run on a distributor tester or dyno to determine if and when they are achieving full advance, and could possibly recurve them to gain more advance or bring it in quicker. Factory timing and advance curves are a compromise between power, economy, ease of starting and avoiding detonation. That's the big key, don't advance so far that the engine starts pinging, as severe detonation can do a lot of damage.

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Ron..NE ILL..10/48

09-10-2004 04:32:24




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 Re: Hidden H.P. and Spark Advance in reply to G-MAN, 09-09-2004 07:54:07  
Is there any reason to NOT replace std mechanical points w/electronics in a puller (IH-M) distributo? Do you lose any ability to time or advance?

Just asking-we have electronic replacement in IH-M farm-use tractor & it works GREAT! Don't know about puller motor though.

Thoughts?



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G-MAN

09-10-2004 07:38:16




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 Re: Hidden H.P. and Spark Advance in reply to Ron..NE ILL..10/48, 09-10-2004 04:32:24  
I can't think of a reason not to. We put them in pretty much all of the Deere New Gen spark-ignitino tractors we work on, as they provide better starting, better throttle response and a smidge better fuel economy. I doubt they give a big horsepower advantage over a good set of points that are properly dwelled, but it's still cheap piece of mind.



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