Pretty close on timing

J

JBohannon

Senior Member
Well I have 2 pretty elementary questions. Car is running ok after ignition tune up and new timing. I have found that it runs best when lever is fully retarded and not so well at all when fully advanced. Would this mean I need to retard timing just a little bit more ?

Secondly I have heard this debate before but one more time. In a Model A or even a lawnmower engine etc. Is there no advantage to spending a little more money and buying a higher octane gas such as easier starting, little more power, etc. Thanks Joe B.
 
Yes, your initial timing is too far advanced. Retard it slightly inside the distributor incrementally until the engine will cackle and roll when the spark is retarded and run smoothly when advanced.
Marshall
 
In an attempt to stimulate answers to the second question: There is something that I have pondered for years. I thought that an increase in octane actually made the fuel less volatile or vaporize less and would cause slower flame propagation. Thereby actually making higher octane fuels less easily ignited. That is what I thought was the reason for higher octane fuels used with higher compression. I know I have a lot to learn so I welcome being corrected on this. So I too would be interested what some of you much more learned in this subject have to say.
 
sphanna said:
In an attempt to stimulate answers to the second question: There is something that I have pondered for years. I thought that an increase in octane actually made the fuel less volatile or vaporize less and would cause slower flame propagation. Thereby actually making higher octane fuels less easily ignited. That is what I thought was the reason for higher octane fuels used with higher compression. I know I have a lot to learn so I welcome being corrected on this. So I too would be interested what some of you much more learned in this subject have to say.
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You are correct in your thinking. Unless you take advantage of the higher octane (i.e. higher compression, advanced timing, etc.) you are wasting your money.

IF for some reason you are getting preignition, a higher octane may help quiet the knock...
 
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Then that means theoretically hi octane might be actually harder to start. Probably in almost unnoticeable amount.
 
about your timing. it should come alive in third at the bottom run good in the middle in second and take off best in first with it up high. but im not an expert im a young new owner.
 
At what approx rpm are you talking about... Idle or cruising down the road...
At idle it will lope if advancing it to much which is normal
 
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i dont want post an answer that im not sure of. but a wrong answer always pulls the experts to the thread. i thought my car ran well but the timing lever seemed to do nothing. now it roars and the timing lever can make it tractor or race.
 
and so i can feel like i do at home when im with the wife and get told im wrong. yet no explanation as to why im wrong. at idle, cold(michigan winter cold) my timing will start full retard. but will need to warm slightly(60 seconds running) before it will idle at advanced. and i dont add my slightly ignorant answers to confuse. i add them because the ones who do know dont pipe up. and when they do it is usually telling you to buy a book. i think the publishers give them a kickback. and if your like me and under 40 you dont buy books. and if any one is willing to take a bet ill put 100 on i get insulted and you dont get any valuable info. but again i love to be wrong.
 
im apparently wrong but my car responds very well to the one notch for every 5mph.

http://modelabasics.com/Starting & Driving.htm

"A gentleman told me once if your engine is timed correctly, for every 5 MPH increase in speed, you would move your Spark Advance Lever down one notch. In general, for normal driving, it is ½ to ¾ of the way down. Lower it further for high speeds.
• When the engine is under load such as climbing a steep hill, retard (move up) the Spark Advance Lever."
 
mike657894 said:
and so i can feel like i do at home when im with the wife and get told im wrong. yet no explanation as to why im wrong. at idle, cold(michigan winter cold) my timing will start full retard. but will need to warm slightly(60 seconds running) before it will idle at advanced. and i dont add my slightly ignorant answers to confuse. i add them because the ones who do know dont pipe up. and when they do it is usually telling you to buy a book. i think the publishers give them a kickback. and if your like me and under 40 you dont buy books. and if any one is willing to take a bet ill put 100 on i get insulted and you dont get any valuable info. but again i love to be wrong.
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I'm also younger, and don't often buy physical books, but e books. I would not call Les Andrews red book a "book", but more of a "shop manual". I think what people are saying is, your question would be answered by flipping through it. It is the only book in my garage, and for me, is a necessity.

A little advice, you may get a better response to your questions or comments if you were a little less antagonistic. (or as it seems to come across through typed sentences)

I may be wrong.
 
forever4 said:
This is exactly the problem. No sympathy here.
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Thanks, forever4, I was just about to make the same comment. Time for Mike to adjust his thinking! Not buying books is not a badge of honor! Get off your high horse and go where the needed information is. When working on an A, it's found in a book!
 
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