IGNITION TIMING

In this article we will cover static timing on distributor/points equipped Indian Enfield Bullets
The standard retarded or static timing is !"mm #$! degrees%& before top dead centre on both '(!
and (!! Bullets ) different publication will cover Bullets with Bo*er electronic ignition fitted
To get ma+imum power& mpg and engine life& accurate ignition timing is important Too earl*& and
the engine could ,noc, under load& too late& and the fuel/air mi+ture will still be burning when the
e+haust valve opens& causing overheating and loss of power& and possible burning of the valve and
its seat
Because accurate timing is impossible with worn
distributor shaft bushes/bearings& stic,ing
advance/retard bobweights or dirt*/worn points&
attend to these first #The earl* distributors fitted
prior to -une $.." were fitted with bushes and
these were prone to rapid wear% /hec, for up and
down movement in the distributor shaft The
return springs must pull the points cam reliabl*
bac,& bro,en or detached springs are common
/lean the points and set to !'( 0 !1!mm
#!!$(2% clearance at ma+imum opening Badl*
burnt points& or a misfire& ma* indicate the need
for a replacement condenser
To chec, ignition timing& remove the spar, plug
and tappet inspection cover 3it either a proper top
dead centre tool #part E!!!'& see photo% in the
spar, plug hole #or in emergenc* a home made
substitute& but beware of dropping or 4amming this
in the c*linder% 5aise the rear wheel off the
ground so that it is free to rotate Engage top gear and slowl* turn the wheel in a forward rotation
until the inlet pushrod rises& then falls and the piston reaches top dead centre #B* watching the
inlet pushrod& *ou will be sure of finding T6/ on the compression stro,e and not on the e+haust
stro,e% 7ou ma* find it easier to remove the primar* chaincase and turn the engine b* means of a
spanner on the alternator rotor nut 5oc, the engine bac, and forth to establish top dead centre
Mar, the tool or use the scale to indicate top dead centre and then mar, it again !"mm above this
Turn the engine bac, about a quarter turn and switch on the ignition )s *ou slowl* turn the
engine forward towards top dead centre& the ammeter should flic, bac, to 8ero at the moment the
higher mar, appears 7ou will hear the 9snap: as the points separate
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If this timing is incorrect& again turn the engine bac, a little and then rotate forward& #this is to
eliminate the inevitable bac,lash in the gear train giving a false reading%& until the highest mar, is
reached This will then have the piston at !"mm before T6/ ;ith the ignition still switched on&
loosen the base plate securing screws and rotate the plate until the ammeter flic,s to <ero&
#/loc,wise to retard or anticloc,wise to advance the timing% 5e=tighten the screws and rechec,
If there is insufficient ad4ustment on the bac,plate
*ou will need to alter the position of the cam in
relation to the points 3irst with a mar,er pen&
draw a line on the bac,plate and cam so that *ou
,now *our starting position If the timing cover
has previousl* been removed& then *ou can simpl*
slip the intermediate drive gear out of mesh and
rotate the distributor pinion to the desired position
>owever if the timing cover is fitted and sealed&
then it is easier to e+tract the points cam and auto
advance unit off its taper and reposition ) special
tool& #part 1.?@@& see photo% ma,es releasing the
cam a moments wor, /lean the taper& reposition
the cam& a light tap will loc, the taper and replace
the centre fi+ing soc,et screw and tighten
)s most of *our riding will be done with the timing full* advanced& we suggest that this is also
chec,ed If the advance/retard unit is worn& then most of the time the engine will be over=
advanced The advance/retard assembl* will give appro+imatel* "(mm #
@$
/?1%2 or '@ degrees at
full advance before T6/
To chec, the full advance timing position& mar, the top
dead centre tool with the advance setting above the T6/
mar, Turn the engine bac,& then forwards until the piston
reaches this new mar, Now turn on the ignition and
carefull* with *our fingers& rotate the points cam
cloc,wise& against the pressure of the springs If
ever*thing is correct& *ou will hear the snap as the points
open e+actl* as *ou reach the limit of the travel& and the
ammeter will flic, bac, to the centre Ahould *ou find& due
to wear etc& #see photo on right& this shows a common
place of wear on the rear of the auto advance unit%& this
setting is wrong& then reset the ignition timing with the
advanced figures whilst holding the points cam against its
springs It is better to have the timing correct in the full*
advanced position and put up with a slightl* poor tic,=
over >owever if there is a ma4or discrepanc*& then it is
time to renew the worn parts

5eplace the spar, plug& tappet cover etc before starting up 7ou should now be rewarded with
easier starting and more miles per gallon