Static Timing with Lumintron ignition

[SwissSteve]

Can anyone tell me how to check the static ignition timing on a car with the Lumenition fitted?

I have seen the diagran in the technical book where you connect a lamp from the +ve terminal to the negative lead on the distributor but I have 4 leads on the negative terminal two white black long leads, one white black short lead and a purple which is from the Lumenition I guess.

Thanks in advance

[SwissSteve]

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I am really confused with this timing settings. I am trying to go between the lumintron instructions and that of th ehaynes manuel and I am not sure where to go now.

Should the engine be on TDC or some other position e.g. 10 or 12 Degrees when I am trying to set the distributor up and under this condition should the rotor be under spark plug 1 or 2?

I connected a voltmeter to the -ve terminal on the coil to ground and tried turning the dizzie until I got from 0v to 12v on the meter, heard the coil spark generate as thisswitched to 12 volts. I guess this is the static timing point.

Advice is again appreciated

[SwissSteve]

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Another question. Two turns on the crank pulley is one revolution of the distributor is this correct?

So I guess the best way to check if we are on TDC is to either remove the Camshaft cover and check the alignment or check if the distributor cap is point in the coil bolt region. Is this correct.

I appreciate your patience

[NickA]

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Static timing is done at 12 deg BTDC on no 2 piston on the compression stroke. That's the point at which the point open and hence the voltage drops on the voltmeter or the bulb goes out if you're using the old fashioned method. So you've 12vas the engine approaches 12 deg then0.How this relates to electronic igniton I've no idea. Mine still runs on points.

[NickA]

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SwissSteve wrote:

Another question. Two turns on the crank pulley is one revolution of the distributor is this correct?

So I guess the best way to check if we are on TDC is to either remove the Camshaft cover and check the alignment or check if the distributor cap is point in the coil bolt region. Is this correct.

I appreciate your patience

or take number 2 spark plug out and feel when the cylinder is coming up on the compression stoke.

[John]

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How this relates to electronic igniton I've no idea. Mine still runs on points.

Just the same I'd have thought. The coil still needs 12v or so across it - how you switch that on and off is I'd have thought rather academic. You can use the strobe for static timing too - just watch for the flash as you turn the distributor.

[SwissSteve]

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So reading what you guys tell me and looking at the books I should

Rotate the engine clockwise until I hit TDC. Then Anticlockwise until I get to 12 Degrees. Then the rotor arm should be on number 2 spark plug.

At this point I should rotate the dizzie until the point where the voltage changes between 12v and 0v. At this point I should have the static timing set.

If I then can get the engine to start I can recheck it again but using a strobe light.

Does this make sense?

[John]

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Sounds about right to me. To be honest, I don't think the timing needs to be that close just to get it to start so you can set the timing dynamically - anywhere between 20BTDC and TDC it would probably kick into life, but you might as well get it as good as you can.

[SwissSteve]

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Thanks for the confirmation.

[Mike J]

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So the static and strobed timing on a mark two is 12 BTDC. Is that correct? Forever confused Mike.

[Peter Hills]

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Mike,

That's about right. There's only one additional comment to make. When setting the timing always turn the engine in its normal direction of rotation. Stop at 12 deg BTDC. Do NOT turn the engine backwatds to 12 deg bTDC. That adds lots of backlash error into the setting.

Hope this helps.

Peter

[Guest]

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Don't forget, disconnect the vac hose from the distributor and plug it before doing the dynamic check. Martin.

[Mike J]

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Just reset mine to 12 before using a strobe and it seems worse than before. New (Correct) plugs tomorrow. Might help. If your an ignition expert, can you tell me if a GCL 217 coil form Unipart is suitable with luminition .So many parts are wrong on this car I wouldn,t be surprised if that was out as well. Mike

[Guest]

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I'm no expert, but don't forget, if your ignition wiring is correct, you need a 6 volt coil, sometimes they have a 12 volt marking on them, just to confuse the issue. Get one from a trusted Stag expert (not you know who!) 12 degrees of advance is correct for the crap fuel we're forced to use so don't vary that. My car runs a Cobra electronic system and that uses a 6 volt coil. Plugs can be important, what have you ordered ? Martin.

[Mike J]

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Martin GKN BP5 s From good old unipart. However I can't find anything that looks like a Ballast Resister. Is it in the boot ? Mike