Hello all. And thank you in advance. I tried searching the forums, but was not able to find anyone else with this exact experience...I am scratching my head, trying to figure out what is going on....
I appreciate and and all help, but please read the entire list of symptoms / observations....
Here it goes... The engine starts easily and runs GREAT - idles great, reaches WOT under load, etc.... As a good measure, since the boat / engine is new to me, have done some preventative maint. including changing the riser, etc ( not relevant)..
More relevant is, that I am trying to set the timing on a 3.0 Mercruiser. I followed the instructions, and shorted the 2 white wires coming from the bottom of the distributor. The "sound" and behavior of the engine DEFINITELY changed ( indicating that I am now in base timing mode I presume).
- With engine warmed up and at idle speed, I connected my timing light to spark plug wire #1.... timing mark on the pulley ( notch) was nowhere to be found !
- Switched to a different timing gun... one of the ones that has an adjustable dial (degrees) - where you adjust the dial till the engine timing mark lines up with 0 then read the degrees ON THE GUN.... IT READ 40+ DEGREES !!!!!!!!?????? This is after I retarded the engine ALL-THE WAY ( turned the distributor all the way clock-wise) !!! So it is even higher with any counter-clockwise rotation of the distributor. That just can not be right - but consistent between the 2 timing lights.... so it is not the equipment...
- With the timing retarded ALL THE WAY, I disconnected the "bypass" ( allowing the timing advance feature to activate).... With this, the idle timing is 12 degrees as it sholld be... and at 2500 RPM, it is at about 26 degrees... and 3000 RPM stays at 26 degrees - so it looks like its good ????
So....
- Why in the "base" mode the timing is so far off, yet in normal mode ( no bypass) all seems to be good?
- It can not be normal for the distro to be turned nearly ALL THE WAY clockwise ( most retarded position) to get these numbers.
Once more, thanks again !
I appreciate and and all help, but please read the entire list of symptoms / observations....
Here it goes... The engine starts easily and runs GREAT - idles great, reaches WOT under load, etc.... As a good measure, since the boat / engine is new to me, have done some preventative maint. including changing the riser, etc ( not relevant)..
More relevant is, that I am trying to set the timing on a 3.0 Mercruiser. I followed the instructions, and shorted the 2 white wires coming from the bottom of the distributor. The "sound" and behavior of the engine DEFINITELY changed ( indicating that I am now in base timing mode I presume).
- With engine warmed up and at idle speed, I connected my timing light to spark plug wire #1.... timing mark on the pulley ( notch) was nowhere to be found !
- Switched to a different timing gun... one of the ones that has an adjustable dial (degrees) - where you adjust the dial till the engine timing mark lines up with 0 then read the degrees ON THE GUN.... IT READ 40+ DEGREES !!!!!!!!?????? This is after I retarded the engine ALL-THE WAY ( turned the distributor all the way clock-wise) !!! So it is even higher with any counter-clockwise rotation of the distributor. That just can not be right - but consistent between the 2 timing lights.... so it is not the equipment...
- With the timing retarded ALL THE WAY, I disconnected the "bypass" ( allowing the timing advance feature to activate).... With this, the idle timing is 12 degrees as it sholld be... and at 2500 RPM, it is at about 26 degrees... and 3000 RPM stays at 26 degrees - so it looks like its good ????
So....
- Why in the "base" mode the timing is so far off, yet in normal mode ( no bypass) all seems to be good?
- It can not be normal for the distro to be turned nearly ALL THE WAY clockwise ( most retarded position) to get these numbers.
Once more, thanks again !
