Setting ignition timing?

Post by **Merlin** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:50 pm

wurlycorner wrote: So you're saying that on vanzep's car, you couldn't see the big plus, or the 3 timing marks before you started playing with it?

That's a massive distance to cover and would mean the timing was so far out before, that I'm surprised the car even ran?

Yup and yup

Post by **indigolemon** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:16 pm

Hmm, wonder if it might be worth checking mine too. Need to get the lip and spats to you anyway.

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:16 pm

So is Vanzeps base timing at the white cross or am I reading this wrong? I am assuming the white mark it a TDC mark and from the pick the red mark is 15 deg BTDC? So I would have thought the pointer needs to point here at the red mark?

Post by **Merlin** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:19 pm

Yup, yup, and yup

Through the timing being so far retarded and not knowing what the marks on the ATR flywheel were, I think we have set it to TDC. Even at TDC it runs way better than it was before. I just hope there is enough adjustment left on the distributor to make it round round to 15 BTDC.

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:24 pm

How the hell did the car run? It must have been firing the plug after TDC?

Post by **vanzep** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:46 pm

there will be enough adjustment on the distributor to take it to the correct marker

it looks like the timing has been out since Honda did the timing belt and then called back to say there was a problem with the autotensioner and they would have to redo the belt again - they did a jobby job and i complained about it and took the car back to them but it never ran the same as it did before going they got their hands on it

That maindealer had their Honda franchise taken away from them a few years later

love the car hate the manidelaer

chrismc · Post by **chrismc** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 2:40 pm

BMCC wrote:How the hell did the car run? It must have been firing the plug after TDC?

It will still run

However, because the spark is occurring whilst the piston is midway through its 'power' stroke, then there is a consequent loss of efficiency/power.

Normally (at idle) the plug fires whilst the crank is 15degs BTDC at the end of the compression stroke. This allows for the time taken for ignition to take place & flame front to grow to extract the maximum energy from the combustion process.

As the engine rpm increases so does the ignition advance value. This allows for the fact the piston is travelling faster & will move further in a given period of time

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 2:49 pm

When I said 'How the hell did that car run' I was meaning it must have ran rough, rather than not at all.

@ Vanzep why would they need to mess with the distributor when changing the timing belt? Pullies yes but rotating the distributor? Were they that bad?

Post by **vanzep** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 9:37 pm

yeah its been running rough thought it might be head gasket also cause of heat issues
the main dealer rushed the job as they had phoned me to say timing belt was done and to come pick it up - 20 mins later they phoned again to say that there was a problem with the autotensioner and they would have to remove it and redo the belts - i took one look under the bonnet when i got it back home and it was a mess so it went back to them but i wasnt satisfied round about that time i joined the forums and have been working away at it ever since

althought the car ran rough and only had a power band of around about 500rpm it wasnt that slow

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 8:19 am

I'd be tempted to to take it to a garage (I know & trust) and get the timing belt done again, while they are at it they can look at the ignition timing. By the sounds of it the last place that done it were muppets. When is it due to be done again?

Lude Generation

Setting ignition timing?

Re: Setting ignition timing?