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HITCHCOCK’S MOTORCCLES LT! OL!"ICH LA#E "EST CHA!"ICK E#! SOLIH$LL %&' (%) E#*LA#! TELE+HO#E (,/ 01' ,&2 3A4 (,/ 01' ','
IGNITION TIMING In this article we will cover static timing on distributor/points equipped Indian Enfield Bullets The standard retarded or static timing is !"mm #$! degrees%& before top dead centre on both '(! and (!! Bullets ) different publication will cover Bullets with Bo*er electronic ignition fitted To get ma+imum power& mpg and engine life& accurate ignition timing is important Too earl*& and the engine could ,noc, under load& too late& and the fuel/air mi+ture will still be burning when the e+haust valve opens& causing overheating and loss of power& and possible burning of the valve and its seat Because accurate timing is impossible with worn dist distri ribu buto torr shaf shaftt bush bushes es/b /bea eari ring ngs& s& stic stic,i ,ing ng advance/retard advance/retard bobweights bobweights or dirt*/worn dirt*/worn points& points& attend to these first #The earl* distributors fitted prior to -une $.." were fitted with bushes and these were prone to rapid wear% hec, for up and down down move moveme ment nt in the the dist distrib ribut utor or shaf shaft t The The return springs must pull the points cam reliabl* bac,& bro,en or detached springs are common lea lean n the the poin points ts and and set set to !'( '( 0 !1! 1!mm #!!$( #!!$(2% 2% clearan clearance ce at ma+imu ma+imum m openin opening g Badl* Badl* burnt points& or a misfire& ma* indicate the need for a replacement condenser
To chec, ignition timing& remove the spar, plug and tappet inspection cover 3it either a proper top dead centre tool # part E!!!'& see photo photo%% in the spar, plug hole #or in emergenc* a home made substitute& but beware of dropping or 4amming this in the the c*li c*lind nder er% % 5ais 5aisee the the rear rear whee wheell off off the the ground so that it is free to rotate Engage top gear and slowl* turn the wheel in a forward rotation until the inlet pushrod rises& then falls and the piston reaches top dead centre #B* watching the inlet pushrod& *ou will be sure of finding T6 on the compression stro,e and not on the e+haust stro,e% 7ou ma* find it easier to remove the primar* chaincase and turn the engine b* means of a spanner on the alternator rotor nut 5oc, the engine bac, and forth to establish top dead centre Mar, the tool or use the scale to indicate top dead centre and then mar, it again !"mm above this Turn Turn the engine engine bac, about about a quarter quarter turn and switch switch on the ignition ignition )s *ou slowl* slowl* turn the engine forward towards top dead centre& the ammeter should flic, bac, to 8ero at the moment the higher mar, appears 7ou will hear the 9snap: as the points separate
If this timing is incorrect& again turn the engine bac, a little and then rotate forward& #this is to eliminate the inevitable bac,lash in the gear train giving a false reading%& until the highest mar, is reached This will then have the piston at !"mm before T6 ;ith the ignition still switched on& loosen the base plate securing screws and rotate the plate until the ammeter flic,s to
owever if the timing cover is fitted and sealed& then it is easier to e+tract the points cam and auto advance unit off its taper and reposition ) special tool& # part 1.?@@& see photo% ma,es releasing the cam a moments wor, lean the taper& reposition the cam& a light tap will loc, the taper and replace the centre fi+ing soc,et screw and tighten )s most of *our riding will be done with the timing full* advanced& we suggest that this is also chec,ed If the advance/retard unit is worn& then most of the time the engine will be over= advanced The advance/retard assembl* will give appro+imatel* "(mm # @$/?1%2 or '@ degrees at full advance before T6 To chec, the full advance timing position& mar, the top dead centre tool with the advance setting above the T6 mar, Turn the engine bac,& then forwards until the piston reaches this new mar, Now turn on the ignition and carefull* with *our fingers& rotate the points cam cloc,wise& against the pressure of the springs If ever*thing is correct& *ou will hear the snap as the points open e+actl* as *ou reach the limit of the travel& and the ammeter will flic, bac, to the centre Ahould *ou find& due to wear etc& #see photo on right& this shows a common place of wear on the rear of the auto advance unit%& this setting is wrong& then reset the ignition timing with the advanced figures whilst holding the points cam against its springs It is better to have the timing correct in the full* advanced position and put up with a slightl* poor tic,= over >owever if there is a ma4or discrepanc*& then it is time to renew the worn parts 5eplace the spar, plug& tappet cover etc before starting up 7ou should now be rewarded with easier starting and more miles per gallon
