I've seemed to have forgotten how to time an engine. Could someone please help me out I know it has something to do with the cap and rotor but like I said I've forgotten how it's been a while.?

Answer 1

This is a guide if the engine won't fire but you have power at the coil (check by putting a testing light + on negative on coil and - on block, turn the engine over, the testing light should come on), starter is cranking and fuel is getting through. Spark plugs are good and gap is correct. In theory, the only other thing is the timing.... Idealy you should have a timing gun as tool to set the timing, but you can adjust it without one. If your distributor has points, remove the vacuum pipe and plug it temporarily. Remove the 'dizzie' cap and lay it on the top of the engine, ensuring the leads won't get caught up in the belts. Remove the coils lead into the dizzie cap. Get someone to assist and turn over (crank) the engine. Note which way the rotor turns. The engine usually stops with cylinder #1. top dead center. Noting the rotor position, ascertain which point/lead the rotor is pointing to with the cap back on and you have ientified cylinder #1. This may sound silly, but many people have set their timing 180 degrees off as they have used cylinder 4 instead of 1. Remove the spark plug from cylinder one and put a clean screw driver in the hole. moving the flywheel until you have positioned the piston top dead center, you do this by turning the flywheel by hand until the screwdriver doesn't rise any higher. At the highest point, use a tipex/whiteout pen and mark the flywheel and crankcase with a line so that you can line up tdc in the future. Replace the dizzie cap and remembering position of Cyl. #1. mark a line on the case of the distributor with the tipex/whiteout pen. Remove the cap and loosen the distributor fixing bolt. Turn the distributor case to align the center line of the rotor with the line you just made on the case of the distributor. The points should be 'closed' for contact for sending the spark through the distributor. Set the gap according to the manufacturer using a gapping tool. Replacing the cap, and spark plug you should be able to fire up the engine. When the engine is running, slowly turn the distributor either to advance or retar the performance of the engine. You can usually set this by ear. As you advance the timing, the engine will speed up slightly. You will notice by ear the point at which the engine appears to run the smoothest when you increase the throttle. As you get closer to achieiving good timing, you will be able to increase the throttle by hand pulling the throttle cable and adjust the dizzie with the other hand if needed. When the engine revs up quickly when the throttle is increased, and doesn't sputter, cough and ecreases very smoothly, you've pretty much found your timing. Tighten the distributor case bolt and you have it. If you have a timing light, use it, it is easier and more accurate. But this is a good way to do it if you don't. To retard (slow) the timing, just turn the dizzie case the opposite way.