2.25 Petrol odd timing

Hi,
So, fitted electronic ignition today, new leads, coil and plugs.

Went really well, and the engine started first time after fitting. Runs very nicely.

so, once warmed up, decided to check the timing using a strobe. I’d adjusted the dizzy by ear first and adjusted them idle. Then removed the vacuum, and set up the strobe.

The pulley marking is miles off the pointer... miles. Below is a photo, which is a frame from a video of the strobe running. It shows how far advanced the timing seems to be.

Any ideas? Does the pulley and pointer look as they should?
I haven’t driven it yet, as brakes need a little work. Am I best to forget the strobe and set by ear and then how it runs, pinking, etc? Anyone experienced this? Could the strobe be wrong?
Cheers

Are you about 6’ BTDC ?

There are marks in that photo that are about 6 BTDC, is the white line in the wrong place?

Hicap phill said:

Are you about 6’ BTDC ?

Click to expand...

Hi, the proper timing marking is the white line... although looking now there’s a line on the pulley seemingly suggesting about 6’ BTDC.

I need to double check TDC I think. Could the pulley be wrong/ from another engine?

I see you have white mark on pully inner ring but can see mark on outer ring opposite the pointers.
When I ran a petrol I always timed by ear/feel.

rob1miles said:

There are marks in that photo that are about 6 BTDC, is the white line in the wrong place?

Click to expand...

The white line is the middle of 5 lines on the pulley... but yes, there’s a line I hadn’t seen.
Why would there be a pointer with multiple points and multiple lines on the pulley? Maybe the line at 6’ BTDC has been added to make it correct?

Not looked for a long time but i recall my 2A has a mark that looks like a timing mark but isn't

Is it not a fact that with modern fuels timing is no longer as original landrover manual settings?
Most time it by ear then drive it and adapt depending on performance.

Ok, seems there’s two timing marker combos.


Multiple point, pointer. One mark on pulley.
Single pointer, scale of marks on pulley.

white marker is on scale, but engine runs best with the single mark at 6’ BTDC.

I’ll check TDC per single line with the position of the piston and rockers tomorrow. But must be the single marker...

Thanks for the replies

Definitely check where your TDC actually is. I had a similar problem and it turned out the mark on my pulley was about 30 degrees out from where it should have been. I guess the pulley just came from a different engine or something. A thin stick down number 1 plug hole, while rocking the engine backwards and forwards will help you determine exactly where TDC is. Then you will know!

Over the years, I have strobe timed dozens of car engines and I have rarely been happy with the results. The book settings depend a lot on what sort of life the engine has led, quality of maintenance, mileage, and driving styles all have an affect. I now only time engines by ear. Instruction manuals will tell you that things like the spark plug gap, point gap setting, valve setting and timing are absolutely critical. That's not my experience, sure, if it's miles out, your engine will let you know, but if it starts, idles and runs sweetly then everything is fine.

Col

DeviousLandyGod said:

The white line is the middle of 5 lines on the pulley... but yes, there’s a line I hadn’t seen.
Why would there be a pointer with multiple points and multiple lines on the pulley? Maybe the line at 6’ BTDC has been added to make it correct?

Click to expand...

its to do with running the engine on different fuels like 2 star and 4 star petrol but now it's all unleaded so you would probably need to reset your timing for unleaded now.

Take the rocker cover off and turn the engine until rockers on #4 cyl are both moving, rockers on ~1 should be free with clearance. #1 should be on TDC and the feint mark (not the one you have painted) should be by the pointer. If so then this all makes sense and it pretty close.