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New guy here. I've got an '85 XLS with the nightmare electric carb 2.8 setup. I just got done adjusting the valve lash (still ticks but it's much better) and was adjusting the timing or attempting to anyway. I can see the two big marks on the damper and if I get real close with a light can JUST make out that there may be graduations between them. The sticker sez 10 degrees before TDC. I was taking a swag at it that the first mark is about 20 before and split the differance between them for a shot at 10. Am I even in the ball park?
Tony, I had this same trouble with my 84. My damper didn't have any numbers on it. I think one mark is TDC, and the other is 10* BTDC (or whatever the specs call for on that specific engine). I cut out a round piece of light cardboard the same size as the damper, and marked it for 360*. (A section of 2 or 3 inches is all you have to mark) Then you can compare the cardboard to the damper, and confirm what degree the marks are at on yours.
Glad to know it was not just me being stupid. My brother also reminded me that there are TWO pointers. One looks like you'd expect and the other looks like it's got a circle on it. I'm going to pull number one plug and run it up to TDC and see which one lines up and then mark off the 10 before mark with a file and fill it with white crayola.