Setting Timing

[WildFarmall]

Can someone provide links for the procedure of setting the timing? I have my Distributer all set to put back on, spark plug gaps set, firing order down, etc. Below is a picture of my front pulley. The tape is where the notch is on my pulley. I have turned my engine until I got a puff of air back from the #1 plug. Are the holes in the pulley indicative of anything? Help dear tractor friends!

[MiCarl]

The holes are to balance the pulley. No information in them.

You need to have cylinder 1 at the top of the compression stroke. There may be a puff of air from the hole even on the exhaust stroke. Either install a compression gauge in the number 1 plug hole or cover it with your fingers. Have an assistant turn the crankshaft until the pointer lines up with the notch on the pulley. If you get pressure at the hole you're top of the compression stroke. If not you'll need to turn the crankshaft one revolution.

Then you need to install the distributor so the rotor is pointing at the #1 tower on the cap. I believe there may be marks on the gears for that but you may not be able to see them with the front cover on the engine.

[Bill V in Md]

Looks like you have a 48 Cub, so I assume you hav a magneto. There are a couple of “how tos” in the Electrical/Ignition HOW TO FORUM. There is also a Video How To in the Video Forum. Let us know if you have any questions after reviewing these.

[cjack]

My son and I had never done this before. We printed out Hengy's instructions and followed the step-by-step and it worked perfectly.

viewtopic.php?f=140&t=44397

[Winfield Dave]

You need to have cylinder 1 at the top of the compression stroke.

An Alternative Take on Finding TDC When Timing A Cub

[abodyjoe]

Have an assistant turn the crankshaft until the pointer lines up with the notch on the pulley.

how big is the notch? i can't see one on my cub.

[MiCarl]

Have an assistant turn the crankshaft until the pointer lines up with the notch on the pulley.

how big is the notch? i can't see one on my cub.

It's pretty small, it needs to be to be accurate. Small enough that rust or several coats of paint slathered on make it difficult to see. I've got a silver pencil I marked mine with when I needed to see it.

Assuming the tractor is assembled and runs it's going to be reasonably close to right. Turn the engine to TDC on #1 and look for it in the vicinity of the pointer.

[Glen]

Hi,
Below are pics from TM Tractor showing the engine front pulley, and the mark for timing.

In the 2nd pic you can see where the mark is, compared to the groove for the key, it's at the upper left.

[abodyjoe]

thansk guys.. i bet its covered with paint. i'll have to do like ya said get it to TDC and look for it.. runs good but figured it be good to check anyway.

[Eugene]

Since tractor runs, mark the distributor base below the #1 spark plug tower on the distributor cap. Remove distributor cap and rotate the engine by hand until the rotor points to the marked location.

Wire brush the pulley in the area where the pointer indicates.

[abodyjoe]

good idea.. thanks..

[WildFarmall]

Looks like you have a 48 Cub, so I assume you hav a magneto. There are a couple of “how tos” in the Electrical/Ignition HOW TO FORUM. There is also a Video How To in the Video Forum. Let us know if you have any questions after reviewing these.

Ok but how do I get to the Video Forum???

[Bob McCarty]

Click on the "Board Index", then scroll down to the "how to forum", and you'll see the videos about three over from the left.

[WildFarmall]

Click on the "Board Index", then scroll down to the "how to forum", and you'll see the videos about three over from the left.

Found it! Thanks, I could have saved everyone some time.

[WildFarmall]

Hi,
Below are pics from TM Tractor showing the engine front pulley, and the mark for timing.

In the 2nd pic you can see where the mark is, compared to the groove for the key, it's at the upper left.

Thanks so much Glen. I went to the "How To" section and read the stuff. I understand the concept but here is the problem: Try as I might, I can only find the one notch. As best as I can understand the other, smaller notch or mark should be about 16 degrees ahead of the noticeable mark, but I cannot find it.
What I wound up doing is cranking my engine with my finger in the number one plug hole. When I got the puff of air I then set my rotor to the number one plug. I will then adjust the distributer a little to get the best run. Hope that this is right.