1986 20hp Evinrude timing issues

[chrisire]

I overheated my outboard last year. Over the winter I replaced the thermostat, power pack, rectifier and of course the water pump and related parts. The compression is 120 psi on the top cylinder and roughly 118 psi on the bottom. I was told I could fairly accuratly set the timing by using the electric start and setting the timing 4 degrees less that what WOT calls for. Does anybody know if this is a semi accurate way to set the timing without having a tank to run it in. After overheating last season, it ran like crap after replacing the water pump, hence all the new parts. Over the winter when I was pulling it apart to replace the parts, I noticed the timing advance screw had the nut backed off and it was almost out of the hole, as well as the adjustable stopper on the rod that advances the throttle linkage was loose and sliding up and down the rod. Does anyone have any advice as how to reset these back to their origional position. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[joereeves]

(Timing At Cranking Speed 4°)
(J. Reeves)
NOTE: If your engine has the "Fast Start" feature", you must disconnect/eliminate that feature in order to use the following method. The "Fast Start" automatically advances the spark electronically when the engine first starts, dropping it to normal when the engine reaches a certain temperture.
The full spark advance can be adjusted at cranking speed,"without" have the engine running as follows.

To set the timing on that engine, have the s/plugs out, and have the throttle at full, set that timer base under the flywheel tight against the rubber stop on the end of the full spark timer advance stop screw (wire it against that stop if necessary).

Rig up a spark tester on the #1 cylinder plug wire. Hook up the timing light to the #1 plug wire. Crank the engine over and set the spark advance to 4° less than what the engine calls for.
It's a good idea to ground the other plug wires to avoid sparks that could ignite fuel that may shoot out of the plug holes. I've personally never grounded them out and have never encountered a problem (fire) but it could happen.

I don't know the full spark advance setting your engine calls for, but to pick a figure, say your engine calls for 28°, set the timing at 24°. The reasoning for the 4° difference is that when the engine is actually running, due to the nature of the solid state ignition componets, the engine gains the extra 4°.

If you set the engine to its true setting at cranking speed, when running it will advance beyond its limit by 4° which will set up pre-ignition causing guaranteed piston damage! You don't want that to take place.

No need to be concerned about the idle timing as that will take care of itself. The main concern is the full advance setting.

Be sure to use your own engines spark advance settings, not the one I picked out of the air here in my notes.