How To Set The Distributor Timing

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The car'southward timing refers to the ignition and the process by which the spark plugs fire, creating a spark in the motorcar's combustion chamber. Your timing must be at the correct setting for your machine to perform at peak level, affecting the speed and efficiency at which the engine fires. Yous can adjust your car's timing with a timing light and a prepare of wrenches, tools available at whatsoever automobile parts shop.

1. 1

   Learn if your car needs to be adjusted or non. Modern cars that are controlled by electronic ignitions don't need to have their timing adjusted, but old-mode 4-stroke engines crave that the timing exist adjusted periodically to optimize the efficiency of the engine, making certain that the spark fires at the appropriate moment in the ignition cycle.^[1]

   • If you hear telltale signs of the timing of your car non being quite right, such as pinging, backfiring, or if the car runs too rich or also lean, you will need to either accept it to a mechanic or adjust the timing yourself.

2. 2

   Understand the ignition bicycle. The four "strokes" in the 4-cycle engine refer to the procedure of intake, pinch, power, and exhaust. The timing of the ignition refers to the point betwixt the pinch and the power strokes at which the spark plug fires, creating the combustion that results in your horsepower, forcing the piston down into the cylinder.^[2]

   • When the piston comes up during the compression stroke, but before the piston gets to the top of its compression stroke (which is called "top dead center"), the spark plug should fire. Over fourth dimension, this tends to get misaligned somewhat, resulting in a less-than-optimum spark plug firing fourth dimension. The distance before the "top expressionless" center is the ignition timing, and it'south represented by a row of graded numbers on the balancer or flywheel through an access hole.^[3]

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3. 3

   Learn the ignition timing number. Look for the ruler-mode row of numbers on the front of the engine's harmonic balancer (or flywheel), which should have numbers higher up and below zero. Typically, when your car comes from the manufacturer, ignition base idle timing is set to a manufacture specification earlier meridian dead centre. The timing advances as the engine'southward speed accelerates, however, resulting in a variable that will demand to exist periodically adjusted using a timing light.

   • Numbers to the left of zero on the timing record refer to the piston equally it travels downward, while numbers to the correct of zero refer to the piston's upward motion. Moving the wheel right is called "advancing" the timing, while moving the wheel left is "moving back" the timing.

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1. 1

   Hook upwardly your timing lite or timing gun. Hook your timing gun upwards to the power and ground terminals on your car's battery, and hook the sensor that accompanies the timing gun to your number ane cylinder spark plug wire. Follow the instructions detail to the timing low-cal you're using to claw it up properly.

   • The "gun" works past illuminating the timing marks in a strobe style as it spins, allowing you lot to see the point at which the spark plug is firing on the timing index. When the spark plug fires, the sensor sends a signal to the light, which strobes in the gun, illuminating the numbers at the proper moment.

2. 2

   Have a helper rev the engine. To cheque your timing number and meet how it is firing, accept someone rev the engine while you illuminate the timing numbers with your light. You obviously want to make sure the motorcar is in neutral, and keep your hands a safe distance from the engine as it revs.^[four]

3. iii

   Shine the light directly onto the harmonic balancer and find the number. Though the wheel is turning, the light should seem to "freeze" information technology at a item number. This is the timing number. Note the number of degrees to the right or left of naught.

   • As the RPMs increment, the point at which the spark plug is firing should as well increase somewhat. This is normal, considering ignition works on a bend, allowing for the speed increase and adjusting the timing accordingly.
   • To cheque for full timing, you want to be sure to rev the engine to at least 3500 RPMs. This will allow you to make certain the curve of the ignition timing is being set, likewise as the initial timing.

4. 4

   Account for vacuum timing, if necessary. If your auto features vacuum timing advance in addition to mechanical timing, and yous'll need to loosen the distributor aligning bolt before y'all beginning the engine. Next, remove the vacuum advance hose from the carburetor and plug information technology with a rag to check your timing.^[5]

   • Vacuum timing works past making minor adjustments at at low RPM by rotating slightly to accommodate for the timing.

5. 5

   Adjust the timing, if necessary. Now that you lot've found your ignition timing number, how do you know if yous need to adjust it? All models of cars will accept differing timing values, depending on the yr it was manufactured and the variety of transmission used. To larn whether or not you need to arrange your timing, notice the optimum timing number for your brand and model and arrange if necessary.

   • If you don't know your timing number, talk to a licensed mechanic or employee at your local machine parts store to consult their manuals and find the proper timing number.

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1. 1

   Loosen the bolt that secures the engine'south distributor plenty and then that the distributor can exist turned. To adapt your timing, all you need to practice is plow the distributor housing one direction or the other, depending on whether or not you want to accelerate or move back the timing.^[6]

   • If the rotor turns clockwise, you lot'll advance the timing past rotating the distributor counterclockwise, and vice versa. It'll take some bear upon to get it right, and so it helps to take someone to rev the engine, bank check the number, and twist the distributor.

2. 2

   Adjust while the engine is at idle speed. Grab the distributor firmly and rotate it slowly to 1 side or the other. Continue rotating until the timing mark is in the correct position. Align the timing marks by standing to move the distributor and checking with your timing low-cal. When you've got information technology set where you want information technology, lock it back downwards past tightening the benefactor bolts.^[7] Reconnect vacuum hoses.

3. 3

   When in dubiety, total timing should be somewhere between 34 and 36 degrees. A typical modest-block Chevy's timing bend needs to be fix somewhere in this range for maximum performance, when the engine is being revved at 3500 RPM. At this point, the timing should stop advancing and should remain steady.^[8]

   • Total timing minus your base timing number should run into your engine specification for full advance degrees. If the number is not as specified then you lot may have a distributor mechanical accelerate problem.

4. 4

   Tighten the distributor bolt when yous are satisfied the timing is set correctly.

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• Clean the timing mark index on the harmonic balancer and marker the top dead center marking with a white or yellow paint mark to make it easier to view.

• It is always a good idea to clean your car'south parts after you remove them and check for wear earlier reinstalling them.

• Remember that you are working under the hood of your motorcar with the engine both off and on. Be sure to take the necessary rubber precautions such as wearing close-toed shoes and gloves and not wearing loose clothing that could go caught in a moving part under the hood of your motorcar.

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• The benefactor is handling high ignition voltage. A damaged distributor or worn spark plug wires tin can deliver a painful shock when handling information technology with the engine running.

• Be sure to let your motorcar's engine to cool before kickoff whatsoever work on removing parts that might be hot.

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Things You'll Need

• Owner's manual for your vehicle
• Set up of socket wrenches
• Timing lite
• Rubber spectacles
• Gloves, close-toed shoes
• Lubricant or degreaser (optional)
• Paper towels or shop rags

About This Article

Article Summary X

To adjust timing, start by finding the optimum timing number for the brand and model of your vehicle, which y'all can notice online or past asking someone at your local car parts shop. Then, apply a timing light or timing gun to check your vehicle'southward current timing number to see whether or not it needs to be adjusted. If it does, loosen the bolt that secures your engine's distributor and then you're able to rotate information technology. Once that'south loose, just rotate the distributor until the timing mark is in the right position and then re-tighten the bolt. To learn how to apply a timing calorie-free or timing gun, scroll down!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Timing

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