timing mystery

[merrill]

so, still working on the 66 230 sl.
I was working to dial in the timing when I realized something.
I set the timing to spec (30 deg at 3,000) drove the car then checked the timing. it was off. re set timing.  checked it again and it was off.

I thought it was my 20 year old timing light so I bought a new light
checked the timing with both. they both read the same.

set the timing with the new light, drove the car, checked it again and the timing was off yet again.  

I keep setting the timing, car warm, to spec, when I re check the timing it typically does not get to 30 deg at 3000. It gets close say 27.
note: I use the fine tune adjuster to set the timing.

Dan Caron check the distro not to long ago, the motor was rebuilt at metric,   any thoughts?

Dwell is set to spec at 30 (per Dr Dan) on my 009 vacuum retard distro.  Points and condenser are basically new.

All of my plug wires leave the distro together and are tie wrapped together.  Could this be casuing the light to pick up the wrong signal?

Thanks in advance

[jameshoward]

No point in doing the timing until you've checked the dwell. You said it was set to 30, but I thought the dwell for a 230 is between 39 & 42. At least I think that's what the BBB says. Not 30. Timing is about 30. Dwell is different isn't it?

If you're setting the timing and then it's changing, and you're using the small adjustment on the distributor housing rather than unlocking the dizzy and turning the dizzy body could it be that your locking mechanism isn't grabbing the dizzy properly? I was missing the small rubber o-ring when I got my car thus the dizzy wasn't locking in properly. Could be worth checking that and just adjusting timing by rotating the whole dizzy instead of using the fine adjustment. You could try that and see if it works.

BTW, was 'Thanks in advance' a pun? If not, it should be. They'll take all the advance you can give them.

JH

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by jameshoward
.. rather than unlocking the dizzy and .. dizzy .. dizzy .. dizzy .. the whole dizzy ..

Help I am getting dizzy! [:0]
Before I faint can someone tell me, what is a dizzy? :?:

[Richard Madison]

Dizzy = Distributor

[merrill]

JH,

Dan instructed me to use 30 as the dwell setting for my 009 distro.

the 051 setting is the 38 or 39 +/- 1.

I tried to adjust by turning the whole distro but that is much harder compared to the fine adjuster on the side.

I can set it and check it just fine, however once I take it for a spin and re check the timing had typically changed.

[Benz Dr.]

Hey, don't mess with the Dr.

  Cast iron distributors typicaly run around 38 - 42 degrees. The points in the aluminium distributors are designed differently and have a different swing or movment which results in a different dwell angle. If you set one of those units to 40 degrees it won't run right.
It's the type of points that determine the dwell angle. The two piece ones that mount on a pin generally run at 38 degrees. The one piece types that fit into a hole are usually around 30 degrees. They fit differently and the way the cam hits the rubbing block makes the points open at a different angle.