Timing off a tooth
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Timing off a tooth
When doing research on installing new distributors, I often see comments about making sure the distributor lines up on the correct tooth and you're not off by a tooth. I have a question about that. Couldn't that be compensated for by adjusting the body of the distributor? As long as the plug wires are in the correct order relative to the orientation of the distributor body, and the rotor is pointing to the #1 plug wire at the timing mark, does the gear have to be lined up exactly on the right tooth? I suppose, on some motors, there might be other components in play that cause spacing issues, like the vacuum advance or the wiring harness pigtail, but other than that, is there any reason a competent fiddler/mechanic couldn't adjust for jumping a tooth on the distributor?
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 508
Likes: 29
From: NE Ohio
I don't believe that there is one single gear tooth you are shooting for, meaning that if the cap is pointed at #1, and #1 cylinder is at TDC, the tooth is irrelevant.
I can't give you good advise as setting the initial timing, as I'm no pro at it, but good luck!
-Glaser67
I can't give you good advise as setting the initial timing, as I'm no pro at it, but good luck!
-Glaser67
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Yes one can allow for this error to some extent by compensating the adjustment of the distributor, but there will be a clearance issue (depending on the particular motor) of external components, say the vacuum advance canister with other stuff e.g. intake manifold.
In other words, stuff starts banging into each other before the optimal timing point is reached.
In other words, stuff starts banging into each other before the optimal timing point is reached.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 67
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I don't believe that there is one single gear tooth you are shooting for, meaning that if the cap is pointed at #1, and #1 cylinder is at TDC, the tooth is irrelevant.
I can't give you good advise as setting the initial timing, as I'm no pro at it, but good luck!
-Glaser67
I can't give you good advise as setting the initial timing, as I'm no pro at it, but good luck!
-Glaser67
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 508
Likes: 29
From: NE Ohio
Good luck!
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