ignition timing scale

[qim]

Is there something like what is in the image in the link below to help set ignition timing on a TR3A?

 

http://www.triumphexp.com/phile/8/15333/PICT3569.JPG44

 

Thanks

Camilo

[Lebro]

I did my own before fitting the narrow belt conversion pulley. use a protractor to mark out, then sharp chisel & number punches to make it permanent.

 

Bob.

[qim]

I did my own before fitting the narrow belt conversion pulley. use a protractor to mark out, then sharp chisel & number punches to make it permanent.

 

Bob.

 

Hi Bob

 

That's beyond my mechanical abilities,,, I was wondering if here is a scale that you buy and attach to the pulley

[Drewmotty]

Most of the modern strobes only need a TDC mark. You adjust the instrument until TDC is lined up under the strobe and read out the angle on the instrument screen.

[Fireman049]

Andrew W ~

 

You're spot on!

 

Tom.

[Charlie D]

Hello,

 

You could print out a disc to fit on to the front of the pulley.

 

https://www.blocklayer.com/degree-wheel.aspx

(There are a lot of other interesting “Tools” on the site as well.)

All the guy asks is a donation to a charity.

 

 

Easy to print, but a bit fiddly to apply, and probably would not be permanent, but you could print out a few and apply as and when you need.

 

Charlie D.

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

Your challenge is where to fit on an original pressed steel pulley half.

The drill hole in the rear pulley half is (or should be) Top Dead Centre (TDC)

I copied its position as a file nick in the pulley outer diameter and blobbed white paint in it so position is easier seen from above with a timing light.

Agreed - you only need accurate TDC mark with an adjustable strobe light.

Peter W

 

This sort of thing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SP8000-Ignition-Timing-strobe-Lamp-light-with-digital-advance-and-Rev-counter/181865828542?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D44760%26meid%3D32c8156142d04108a4e99f7190673429%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D352094272373

[qim]

Hello,

 

You could print out a disc to fit on to the front of the pulley.

 

https://www.blocklayer.com/degree-wheel.aspx

 

Charlie D.

 

Hi Charlie

 

Yes, just what I wanted, but having had a good look at it, I am not sure if the link you sent me already has all I need for a TR3A pulley. Is the diameter correct, and could I just print the tape (the bit I can make yellow) as it is on screen and apply it to my car?

[Don H.]

Definitely an application for an advance timing light. I have a vintage Sears Craftsman version that works perfectly. It makes the task SO much easier. No need to fool with stickers or engraving pulleys.

 

Here's a very nice one. More expensive than Peter's link, but well rated by users. When my old one dies, this is what I'm getting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EVU8J8/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IUXF8FX7VZ13B&colid=2I4EY7T2121XG

[RogerH]

Hi Camilo,

sadly. from the comments you make, your skills are not co-incident with old cars.

Even if you manage to stick a label on the front pulley what will you do with it.

 

As mentioned the easiest thing by far is a modern timing light.

With a blob of white paint on the pulley (TDC position) and on the pointer.

Set the timing light to zero and pint it at the running engine.

Now you simply turn the knob until the two blobs line up.

Then look at the reading on the timing light knob scale. - Bingo

 

If only you lived in London I would be around in a shot giving you a tutorial

 

Roger

[Charlie D]

Camilo said:

 

"Yes, just what I wanted, but having had a good look at it, I am not sure if the link you sent me already has all I need for a TR3A pulley. Is the diameter correct, and could I just print the tape (the bit I can make yellow) as it is on screen and apply it to my car?"

 

On the link you can change the diameter to what ever you want. If you want to print out a tape, you can change the length (circumference) and the width.

[qim]

On the link you can change the diameter to what ever you want. If you want to print out a tape, you can change the length (circumference) and the width.

 

 

Right! So, the next question is: what is the diameter of the pulley in 3A, where the tape would be placed?

Edited July 18, 2017 by qim

[Ben Freer]

Camilo, why don't you save yourself a lot of anguish and skinned knuckles and heed the advice above to buy a decent strobe. Then all you need is a pot of white paint (or Tippex if you can still get it) and put a blob on TDC and the indicator and Bob's your uncle. Or even better ask a garage to set the timing for you!

 

I forsee a whole lot of angst getting the tape to stick, aligning it correctly, finding out that it has stretched and is inaccurate.

[Lebro]

eh ?

[qim]

Hi Ben

 

I agree and will follow advice, but from a theoretical point of view where can I get the diameter of the pulley, where the tape would have to attach to?

[peejay4A]

I think you will need to measure it rather than take it on trust.

[Motorsport Mickey]

Hi Camillo,

 

Remove the crankshaft pulley fan nose extension that bolts on the front of it ( the fan bolts on it), and then use a tape with a " hook" end stop ( most "tin" retractable builders tapes have these) and hook it over the bottom dia of the pulley and position the reading off scale of the tape so it passes directly through the centre line of the pulley.

Then read off the dia of the pulley from the tape, reassemble the fan extension onto the front of the pulley.

Alternatively use a pair of outside callipers upon the pulley as it is now (without stripping it down ) and squeeze the arms together until they just touch the outside of the pulley circumference across the centre and then measure the dia off against the tape measure I've mentioned previously.

 

Mick Richards

Edited July 19, 2017 by Motorsport Mickey

[qim]

Thanks Mike.

 

I'll try the alternative

[qim]

Your challenge is where to fit on an original pressed steel pulley half.

The drill hole in the rear pulley half is (or should be) Top Dead Centre (TDC)

I copied its position as a file nick in the pulley outer diameter and blobbed white paint in it so position is easier seen from above with a timing light.

Agreed - you only need accurate TDC mark with an adjustable strobe light.

Peter W

 

This sort of thing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SP8000-Ignition-Timing-strobe-Lamp-light-with-digital-advance-and-Rev-counter/181865828542?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D44760%26meid%3D32c8156142d04108a4e99f7190673429%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D352094272373

Hi

 

I followed your advice and bought the strobe light. As the car is in Portugal and I am in bed in oxford with a British cold... I have been reading the instruction booklet (written, it appears, in China...) and I see that I need also a manual vacuum pump with a vacuum gauge. Is this really necessary, and if so, where can I get a cheap one?

 

I saw one for £17.50 and a Gunson for £66... what's the difference?

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22car+manual+vacuum+pump%22+.co.uk&tbm=shop&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1jZeW8JfVAhXhDsAKHWe2C0gQ_AUIBigB&biw=1348&bih=649&dpr=1#tbm=shop&q=car+%22manual+vacuum+pump%22+

 

Thanks

Edited July 20, 2017 by qim

[iain]

NO and NO

 

Must a brilliant Chinese booklet.

 

I guess they are trying to tell you to disconnect the vacuum advance from the distributor when setting the engine timing ( assuming you have that connected)

 

Iain

Edited July 20, 2017 by iain

[Fireman049]

Hi qim ~

 

I bought a Gunson's Professional strobe gun. No mention of any vacuum pump? They're having a laugh!

Send the bloody thing back and get a Gunson's.

 

Regards ~

Tom.

[Motorsport Mickey]

+1 ^

 

The connected vacuum advance pipe will clash with the timing light operation and they will be asking you to disconnect the pipe: ps reconnect after you are happy with the timing.

 

Mick Richards

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

Hi

 

I followed your advice and bought the strobe light. As the car is in Portugal and I am in bed in oxford with a British cold... I have been reading the instruction booklet (written, it appears, in China...) and I see that I need also a manual vacuum pump with a vacuum gauge. Is this really necessary, and if so, where can I get a cheap one?

 

I saw one for £17.50 and a Gunson for £66... what's the difference?

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22car+manual+vacuum+pump%22+.co.uk&tbm=shop&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1jZeW8JfVAhXhDsAKHWe2C0gQ_AUIBigB&biw=1348&bih=649&dpr=1#tbm=shop&q=car+%22manual+vacuum+pump%22+

 

Thanks

Vacuum pump - A useful tool to have.

 

Your primary task is to set the ignition distributor timing with the strobe light.

 

Does top dead centre of No1 and 4 correspond with the crank pulley mark and timing pointer on the timing cover? The pulley can be assembled in one of 6 different orientations - 1 correct, 5 wrong.

Do you have contact breaker points in the distributor? Are they correctly adjusted?

Are the carbs balanced and the right engine tick-over is set?

Are the rocker clearances set correctly?

 

Distributor Timing

Start off by disconnecting the vacuum advance line between the carbs and the distributor. - you only want mechanical advance to operate while you are setting the timing.

 

Attach the strobe as per makers instruction.

 

Start engine:

Point strobe light down at crank pulley and pull trigger - You get a flashing light - Yes?

Twiddle knob on strobe light to get the timing mark on the crank pulley and the pointer on the timing chain cover to align. - read the figure you have on the strobe gun. It should be crankshaft degrees.

 

Adjust timing on the distributor by the knurled nut to get a tickover advance degree figure of over 4 degrees before top dead centre (BTDC) . - NOTE the engine RPM may change with advance or retard adjustments, so you could be in for a carb tickover reset.

 

When you are happy that the advance is set :-

1 - Above 4 degrees advance - but best results tend to be between 8 and 12 degrees advanced at tickover (750 - 1000 rpm) on a regular TR distributor.

2 - The maximum advance you get when the engine is running at over 3000 rpm is no more than 30-32 degrees - if over this figure reduce the advance on the distributor timing or the engine is likely to 'pink' and cause internal damage.

 

Vacuum Advance Check

You can then use the vacuum tool to check the vacuum advance is working by applying vacuum to the capsule on the distributor and seeing if the distributor timing advances.

 

There are figures for this in the workshop manual.

 

 

Once all is to your satisfaction, remove the strobe light, reconnect the vacuum tube between carbs and distributor and go for a drive.

 

Peter W

Edited July 20, 2017 by BlueTR3A-5EKT

[qim]

Look at the image

 

 

PS - Sorry this was an answer to Iain. I did not see the further posts in page 2....

 

 

and Peter... thank you for the "full manual"! Now, I need the car and to get rid of this cold!

Edited July 20, 2017 by qim

[Don H.]

I would say the manual is written just fine, Camilo. What they describe to check the advance seems quite appropriate.

 

But I understand you want to check/set timing, not the function of your vacuum advance. Pay no attention to that for now.

 

You've mentioned a number of times that you're not especially mechanically-inclined, and we believe you. Is setting the timing within the range of your abilities?