New Engine startup install distributer

[fastimes]

What do I need to do when installing a distributer in a fresh rebuild, does the number on cylinder need to be at top dead center meaning both valves closed ???? then set the distributer in and where the rotor lands this is my #1 cylinder wire???? can anyone help me with this what is the proper procedure. Thanks

[Michael C Henry]

First prime the oiling system with a drill and oilpump priming shaft , the drill has to go in reverse.. A 1/2' drill will bog when the oil is all moving . You'll show oil pressure and everything. Then the distributor sound like you have it . I used to with an old points distributor set the damper at 4°bftdc and stick a grounded plug into #1 wire and turn the distributor back and forth untill it sparked. and tighten. worked out to be 8°bftdc. Didn't work on Malllory unilite. each wire position is 90°. The distributor has 15 teeth =48° each .Good luck and check it with a timing light. Too late timing will run but the carb will be open farther than if timing was correct. It might try to run on and deisel.

[*13*]

The cylinder only fires every other time it comes to the top. You'll know it's on the firing cycle when the the piston pushes a good amount of air out of the spark plug hole on it's way to the top. That is when you need the number one sparkplug wire lined up. I brought my #1 up to the top & estimated a bit of advance. I was actually pretty close...Maybe I got lucky

[trularin]

4 stroke engine.

If it fires 180 out, the engine at best will stumble start, but should not run.

Mike H's advice is some of the best I have read for setting up, follow what he has. However, if you are 180 out, simply rewire the distrubutor or move the rotor, either way to get it to fire on the other side of the distributor.

Hope this helps.

[Michael C Henry]

I ran into the ° difference between teeth and plug wire position .When installing Mallory Unilite distributor with mechanical tach drive . It had a very small swing to get timing correct. One direction Tach drive was into manifold the other tach drive was covering up the hold down bolt. My distributor has 20° of internal centrifigal advance and initial is currently at 12°BFTDC. My Mallory HyFire VI ignition box is start retard programable .I programed 8°. So it starts at 4° BFTDC and above 500 RPM it goes to 12° BFTDC. So it currently goes to 32° BFTDC at 2500 RPM.

[fastimes]

thanks for all your help, I will tell you this weekend how it goes.