Distributor talk.....

Bubba Thanks for the follow up ,I am sure you have done way more distributors than me . but some of it I disagree with and I am sure people will find it confusing . ?? ,I think for the followers of this thread I should give a answer, that will be to night ..
,I will deal with it as Ford does ,,and KR Wilson as cam shaft degrees = dwell Rather than jump back and forth from crank shaft deg .Just a note],In order to restor the so called degrees retard you talk about you must move the advance plate up not down ?? Any adjustment of the left set of points would not retard it . ??unless you are pushing the advance plate down .By the way I run custom line single points in my 34, these need to be set on maximum dwell to supply enough switching to coil .

NOW we can begin to see Teds point !!! If you adjust a crab LH set to 36 degrees ( no problem doing that) with the RH set blocked off the coil still fires etc , BUT the timing retards 13 degrees engine.!! This requires a downward adjustment of the timing plate to restore the timing back to normal


Ted ,

On the tester with distributor running , as mounted on the engine i moved the plate downward to make up for the retarded timing...:) Thats what i said wasnt it ???
 
Bubba Thanks for the follow up ,I am sure you have done way more distributors than me , but some of it I disagree with and I am sure people will find it confusing . ?? ,I think for the followers of this thread I should give a answer, that will be to night ..
,I will deal with it as Ford does ,,and KR Wilson as cam shaft degrees = dwell Rather than jump back and forth from crank shaft deg .Just a note],In order to restor the so called degrees retard you talk about you must move the advance plate up not down ?? Any adjustment of the left set of points would not retard it unless you are pushing the advance plate down ??. The 27 deg whats that ?we were original talking about 22.1/2 deg dwell on the left points verses your claimed 32 , By the way I run custom line single points in my 34, these need to be set on maximum dwell to supply enough switching to the coil people can see how this car runs on my video .The test you did to 5000RPM I assume were with this type of points not stock flathead ones ,

NOW we can begin to see Teds point !!! If you adjust a crab LH set to 36 degrees ( no problem doing that) with the RH set blocked off the coil still fires etc , BUT the timing retards 13 degrees engine.!! This requires a downward adjustment of the timing plate to restore the timing back to normal


Ted ,

Thats cool as i want to see how the KW Wilson tools functions as well.
Over the years i have owned a couple of these KW Ignition tools and sold them as they were getting pretty pricey at the meets etc.

I have taught this stuff for over thirty years and never had to teach someone from Auckland. Are you a "Maori" or a "Kiwi" ? I have a friend down the street here from New Zealand and you can call him anything but a Limey..:D

Looking forward to the explaination using camshaft degrees ..
 
By the way, Harylufa's photo of his distributor fixture's degree scale is an EXCELLENT pictorial of what dual flathead points should be doing.

It's said, " a picture is worth ... ", well, you know.

For those not familiar with setting the points, you might consider saving it.

Green - Left side points closed

Yellow - Right side points closed

White - Both sides closed

Red - Both sides open

Getting the green LEFT side points to open at exactly 45 degrees (firing the plug) is determined by moving the index screw on the side of the distributor ... which also presets the initial timing to 4 degrees.

The color-coded visual on Harylufa's machine is actually better (I think) than the otherwise bullet-proof KR Wilson. Also note that he is using a multimeter with a continuity "beeper" rather than a light. Very good technique.

(Certainly there are a lot of guys who already know how to set their own points ... or think they do:) ... I mention this for those of us who are still learning.)

More incidentally, Harylufa should be a prime candidate for the "Miss Shelly Award" which is often directed to the guy who spreads the most BS on the Ford Barn:). How about a young guy from Argentina who has extremely limited access to parts, few flathead mechanics, less instructions in Spanish, and sparce fellow Argentinian flatheaders? He presses on through half-assed advice from the states (I tried to help him time his distributor ... now his refrigerator doesn't work. My "hablo" is way weak. Harylufa's English is pretty good thankfully.)

Harylufa exhibits a tremendous enthusiasm and dedication to the hobby.

Think about it.

DistMachArgPhoto1-1.jpg
 
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Dear Hoop!

When you told me how to calibrate my dist with this manual method I understand it perfectly and dist was installed in my engine.
Results: perfect start, on the road with better power etc.
As I mentioned before I knew a technician about 66 years old that has a strobe machine, I said "i am lucky" he took some old manual hidden between old books ( not much interest). He looked for an old dist adapter because he tastes actual electronic dist. He did the test I was not allowed to see how (?)

That is why I attach these pics showing the final result being tested in a strobe machine. I installed the dist in engine and it seemed be alright, Today, today am going to verify and timing etc with another measurement instrument that I not have.

So, i investigated that I could need a timing light and another(igniscopio) I bought a book called Engine tuning (Afinacion de motores) and another Tuning American engine (Afinacion de mototres Americanos).

As you can see am not yet completely calm, I insist, am 37 years old and if I can not repair my car minimally I think I will sell it one day and buy a new one. Here in my Country have a phrase that I hate "Walked, ready, leave it" I hate this.

Well. Hoop thanks for your words, perhaps not "Miss Shelly Award" yes "Mr December" jaja. I think in Fordbarn people have good intention in sharing things.

Thank very much for posting interesting knowledge.

Hary
 
I must admit that I am "in the weeds over my head" in the post but can I interpret this statement ......"Just for grins i checked four of these today before wrapping for shipment with a feeler gauge . They checked very close to .011 on each set of contacts ! Using my Motor manual with a spec of .014 to .016 using a feeler gauge on the bench the timing would be ok to run but still be off quite a bit.. to mean that if I set my crab dist at .011 on both sides that is better starting point than the manual spec?
 
i must admit that i am "in the weeds over my head" in the post but can i interpret this statement ......"just for grins i checked four of these today before wrapping for shipment with a feeler gauge . They checked very close to .011 on each set of contacts ! Using my motor manual with a spec of .014 to .016 using a feeler gauge on the bench the timing would be ok to run but still be off quite a bit.. To mean that if i set my crab dist at .011 on both sides that is better starting point than the manual spec?

actually if you set them at .015 and ran them for a few miles they would more than likely settle in at approx .011.

One of the things we do is lube the cam and contact arms ( actually to the point of over lube), we also soak the napa contacts in marvel before installing to help the lube issue as well. The fiber will absorb some of the oil etc.

When i first started doing these i noticed some return with a note that the unit ran well for a few trips and then dropped performance . In most cases the contacts had closed up and required a readjustment.
Now we lube and run them in on a test unit at 3000 rpm for a few minutes allowing them to settle in , readjust before shipping etc....
 
Heres a copy of the KR Wilson instructions ,They are far more complicated than the average Joe needs to know ,( I will try and get a better picture up)The photo it a shot of the first timing sequence 2 deg BTDC (cam) I agree with Hoop the KR is near bullet proof .The unit in the picture is not a KR but does function the same .
 

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A couple of added notes:

1. The KR Wilson instructions are some of the worst you will ever run into as Ted will tell you.

There are three steps to using the KR Wilson. (A) Set the left points to 22 1/2, (B) adjust the index to have the left points break/open at the "Firing mark" or "Master Mark", then, (C) Set the right side points to 22 1/2.

I advise 22 1/2 on the right side because it's easy to remember both sides being the same. It'll give a slight touch more dwell, and that's not bad.

2. Frequent point adjustment should be expected. As Bubba says, the gap changes as you drive. No set up, whether manual or with a strober, will "go for years with no problems."

3. If I had a service station "back in the day," I'd doggone sure have a Sun Distributor Tester. The greatest Dog and Pony show a gas station could own.

Here's one of my latest acquisitions ... you can watch the spark plugs fire as well as the rotor and points.

SunIgnSim1-2.jpg


Sorta like:

"Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window."
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The KR instructions do state that left and right should set at 22.1/2 of cam travel this is a total of 45 but because you get a over lap when one is opening and one closing of 10 deg ,dwell is reduced to 35 degrees thats over all .some builders add a little more for a hotter spark.of course dwell being the time the point's are closed .
 
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"The KR instructions do state that left and right should set at 22.1/2 of cam travel this is a total of 45 but because you get a over lap when one is opening and one closing of 10 deg ,dwell is reduced to 35 degrees thats over all .some builders add a little more for a hotter spark."


Ted, you are right. It says that ... and then goes on to say, "Due to various factors, the Dwell of the R.H. Points may vary one or two degrees, the IMPORTANT ADJUSTMENT is to make them close at exactly the right time."

The "right time" according to KRW is 10 degrees after firing. From experience 22 1/2 degrees often gives you a 9 degree close resulting in 36 degrees of total dwell.

The Ford spec calls for 80% total dwell ... 80% of 45 degrees is 36 degrees.

Somebody's math is wrong. KRW's 10 degrees leaves you with 77.7% dwell @ 35 degrees.

(The only advice omitted from the KR Wilson instructions is whether you should hold your tongue in the right corner of your mouth as you're adjusting the points, or in the left.)
 
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I agree, a fine point , .I have been wrenching on these Flatheads for 52 years and I have found in the over all scheme of things some things are not that important . points set at 15 ,My tests show If you set your points at say 15 th and they ware down to 11 at that point they are well out of adjustment, Napa ones any way! .I did say that a 8BA would only give you about 32 depending on what points you use ,My current tests show up to 35 degrees, and thats ideal .I think I will leave it there ,
 
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Dear Friends!

I have some news, the technician gave me a(resistor) to install between coil and the start button, I attach pic. This is to avoid damage the contacts points he said.
Remember that my car is 12V not 6v. This resistor is 16 ohm. He told me to install the dist and resistor, but I install the dist and my engine begun rising temperature. So, I did something I borrow a light timing to see if the dist is in correct timing.

What happened!

"I started the engine after have connected the light timing and I noticed engine was 28º of advance in a idle 250 rpm. AGAIN, this is not the dist that I set taught by Hoop method, please do not get confused".

My question is this right? If I install my real dist set as Hoop method says, what is he real advance or degree being in idle or regulating at 500 rpm as manual says?.
What about resistor? Must I installed being my engine al 12V?

I hope be clear, thanks for reading

Hary
 

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Dear Friends!

I have some news, the technician gave me a(resistor) to install between coil and the start button, I attach pic. This is to avoid damage the contacts points he said.
Remember that my car is 12V not 6v. This resistor is 16 ohm. He told me to install the dist and resistor, but I install the dist and my engine begun rising temperature. So, I did something I borrow a light timing to see if the dist is in correct timing.

What happened!

"I started the engine after have connected the light timing and I noticed engine was 28º of advance in a idle 250 rpm. AGAIN, this is not the dist that I set taught by Hoop method, please do not get confused".

My question is this right? If I install my real dist set as Hoop method says, what is he real advance or degree being in idle or regulating at 500 rpm as manual says?.
What about resistor? Must I installed being my engine al 12V?

I hope be clear, thanks for reading

Hary

Harry,

I think the resistor is actually 1.6 ohm .......which would be ok on a 12 volt system.....

28 degrees at idle would be what too high cant imagine how you could get to that point...
Tell us how you are measuring this ???
 
You may get hard starting ,I think Some cars that had that resistor had a key by pass for starting ?,Bubba would know .
 
Harry,

I think the resistor is actually 1.6 ohm .......which would be ok on a 12 volt system.....

28 degrees at idle would be what too high cant imagine how you could get to that point...
Tell us how you are measuring this ???

Bubba!

I connected the light timing. This is how I measured the 28ª with technician dist calibrated, this gave me a 0,018" contact gap.
I insist, this is the technician method in his strobe machine.


As I told you before is hard to find a technician who knows deeply how to calibrate. what I wrote above is a real proof of this. Setting dist with strobe machine versus manual strobe.

Here is the proof where Hoop said
"Your manual machine and a strobe distributor machine should be approximately the same. If there is a big difference, then it must be one of the machines ... or the operator".

Ted!

"You are right my engine had a hard starting"

I need to compare both ways to learn deeply

Please keep in touch.

Hary
 
According to my Loyd manual the resistor is bypassed when the starter is in operation to give a better spark, then once the starter is off the power to the coil goes via the resistor again to drop the voltage to that required by the coil for continous operation.
I have a borrowed timing fixture that I used to setup my Crab unit:

8138120658_97c2d36a4d.jpg
 
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