Farm Equipment - set the timing without a light

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set the timing without a light

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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44659
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Topic: set the timing without a light

Posted By: cobra
Subject: set the timing without a light
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 1:39pm

on my d15 gas i had to replace the pin that holds worm gear on rotor shaft . the main pully is not easily accessable.i could not not mark tdc. i had to set timing by ear. im sure its off . the tractor is running ok but id like to set the timing. can it be done without a light.

Replies:

Posted By: XT in pa
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 2:06pm

Probably should use a light. I used to run demo derby cars and always did it by ear and had over heating problems all the time. The one time I used a light my car lasted bout 1/2 hour with out water and it ran great made of to 2nd place. I used one everytime after. Shawn

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190XT,D17and 7045

Posted By: Gary in da UP
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 2:33pm

This is the method I prefer and a link to explain how. Every mechanic should have a vacuum gauge.

http://classicinlines.com/Vacuum.asp" rel="nofollow - http://classicinlines.com/Vacuum.asp

Posted By: BobHnwO
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 4:15pm

Retard timing til engine labors,then advance timing a little til it runs smooth.

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Why do today what you can put off til tomorrow.

Posted By: GregLawlerMinn
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 4:22pm

I time mine by "ear" as Bob suggests. Best if down with engine at low idle and warm. May have to do it a few times alternating between carb adjustment and distributor timing. These 4 cyl engines have a distinct sound when the timing is right, too far advanced, or too much retarded.

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What this country needs is more unemployed politicians-and lawyers.
Currently have: 1 D14 and a D15S2.
With new owners: 2Bs,9CAs,1WD,2 D12s,5D14s,3D15S2s, 2D17SIVs,D17D,1D19D;1 Unstyled WC

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 5:26pm

Timing this engine without a timing light (at full throttle) is asking for trouble in my opinion. If it is a D15 series 2 it has 8 to 1 compression and if advanced too far, will in time (if used hard) may fail a head gasket due to detonation. If you so choose to not use a timing light, I can tell you this......when warmed up to proper water temps, and idling along in 8th gear at 900 to 1000 rpm, if you suddenly crack the throttle all the way open and hear ANY pinging whatsoever, you better keep retarding it 1/16" rotation of the dist at a time until the pinging subsides. Any other "listening" method is useless. It can't ping when lugged down to 1000 rpm or it's too far advanced (or you have really cheap/poor quality gasoline). Experience is a cruel teacher sometimes.

Posted By: cobra
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 7:26pm

thanks for the help. i'll get a light. i dont need any needless troubles especially ones that cab be prevented.

Posted By: Bolivar Boy
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 8:22pm

very good advice mr. gary upper michigan.

Posted By: MACK
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 8:24pm

I agree with the DR.

You can get by with most of the others but D15-D19 and 190 gas, Use a light at correct RPMs. MACK

Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 8:31pm

And check to see if the timing advance is working to change the advance for different engine speeds. Its easily stuck which makes it hard to time it right over the normal operating range. It can runs, the weights can break, the springs can break.

Gerald J.

Posted By: Dipstick In
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 9:31pm

Too lean on the carb and too fast on timing will give you an opportunity to pull the head and see what's inside the motor. Predetonation makes for leetle holes in the tops of pistons. Lean fuel mix works really good for burning valves when plowing. BTDT! Had a Case 730 gas that would pull hard, but after the second valve job in three years I fudged on the rich side after that! Sure I lost a little horse, but I had better thing s to do than fix mistakes! Time by ear all you want, but I for one don't get that excited about pulling heads!

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You don't really have to be smart if you know who is!

Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 11:32pm

Actually you can get more power plowing running on the rich side, just a tiny bit of black smoke in the exhaust is where my MF-135 pulled the plow best. Aircraft engines are run rich for takeoff, then leaned at altitude for fuel economy. When leaning they monitor the exhaust gas temperature and only let it rise to 500F.

Gerald J.

Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2012 at 3:50am

"Aircraft engines are run rich for takeoff, then leaned at altitude for fuel economy. When leaning they monitor the exhaust gas temperature and only let it rise to 500F"

I remember reading a book about a pilot's experiance during WWII over in the Pacific Islands. One episode, Him and his buddies went on a near suicide mission from a carrier. By the time they got to the destination, they were already several minutes past the point of no return and they barreled out of there and flew their planes just above the waters with their engines leaned out to the max and hoped that the dense moist air would help prolong their engines, and prayed... A few didn't make it back because they couldn't make em run on fumes any longer and the ones that got back on the carrier, the engines were practically burned up..

Which reminds me of a WD dad had, he traded a WC in on this WD and had rented another farm being we had two WD tractors. The one would start and run and then would get fussy but after a little bit it would pull like an ox. pulling 3-14 mounted plow in second gear and was a miser on fuel... But don't kill it, the starter wouldn't turn it over till it cooled off. The other WD just struggled with 3-14 plow in first gear in the clay type soil. We got the drops in on the place and by the end of it, the tractor was using oil. Found the sediment bowl screen was felt and had clogged up enough to let the tractor get only so much fuel and the carb was the small bowl carb and would get hot and vaporize the fuel . Cost us an engine overhaul... and couldn't pull the plow anybetter than the other WD could... Dad always wondered what would have happened if he had added water to the intake while working it...