looking for timing info for a continental 6cyc

In the absence of any factory specs, set the impulse to snap just a hair after TDC.

With a magneto, when the impulse is active during cranking, the spark is retarded 20 to 30 degrees. As soon as the engine "catches" and speeds up, the impulse drops out, and timing jumps 20 to 30 degrees advanced, all at once, which is "running timing". The exact figure is determined by how the engine manufacturer spec'd the magneto.

So, with a mag on a hand-cranked engine, timing at cranking is critical, and if that is set correctly to just after TDC (or whatever the engine builder specifies), running timing should be correct, too.

For some other ideas, click below:

• Timing

I only had one episode with a magneto. Went to buy this Farmall B and had to crank it to get it going. Never did this before.

Well in short, the handle slipped outta da notch and It took 5 stitches to put my chin back together.

Mark

Or, you can crank the engine and while cranking slowly rotate the dist hoping you accidentally hit the sweet spot.

If you can get it running, turn the dist cw till the engine starts to misfire, then ccw to the same reaction, and set it in the middle. Would be surprised how close that is to the correct value.

Mark