MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Timing settings

Can someone help please. I have looked through the archives and cant find a definite answer.
I have a Mkll (1622cc) and the manual says 10 degrees BTDC for static but what should the settings be when using a strobe? Barney only appears to mention a 1500cc which is 7 deg BTDC at static and suggests 20 deg at 800 to 850 rpm (without vacuum disconected). So should I be looking for 23 deg at 850 rpm?
Thanks
GrahamMV

If it were me and like you I could not guarentee the dissy advance I had fitted. I would disconnect the vacuum and rev the engine to 4.5K RPM and at that I would set the timing to about 32/34 degrees BTDC. That would without any doubt mean that your timing would be optimised.

The setting you see in manuals of like 7 degrees static are designed to use the dissy characteristics to make the timing 32/34 degrees at high revs as described above.

The reasons why some engines/dissies are different is because the characteristics of the distributor are different but all will end up the same at high revs. So you can not go wrong setting the timing at those revs can you?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Thanks Bob. Daft question I guess but to tell I am at 32/34 degrees, I assume I just measure the distance from TDC to 10 deg, to work out how much further round I need to go before I put a mark at 33?
I intend putting the marks at the top where I can see them. Is that a good plan?
GrahamMV

Graham

The normal bit of kit for this is a strobe timing light with an advance feature. You simply dial in Bob's 34 degrees, run the engine up to speed, then rotate the dizzy until the timing mark shows TDC. The sort of timing light is here: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_237713_langId_-1_categoryId_165557 but ther are plenty others.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Many years ago Steve we did not have such luxury kit, I do now when my friends care to return it. :-) and I used to do exactly as Graham described. good luck Graham.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Oh. Mine doesnt have that. Just bought it too! Is it useless or is there another way?
GrahamMV

Since posting have seen Bob's post just before me. I will get the tape measure and tippex out then. No obvious problem in coying marks to the top where I can see it?
GrahamMV

Bob

I have been using the dial in advance light for the last 3 years. When I fitted my Chinese dizzy the other week I did it by feel and engine sound; it was the best set-up I have achieved to date!!

Just a general question, how do others time with the dial in strobe light and the timing mark underneath? 2 person operation? I fitted a timing cover with the marks on top, making it an easy one person operation.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Found a good simple tip in the archives from Les Bengtson.
"Simply set the notch in pulley at the first pointer you come to when rotating (the engine rotates clockwise when viewed from the front). Then, use a dab of paint to make a small mark on the pulley in line with the top dead center pointer. That mark will be 20 degrees advanced from the notch in the pulley. Align the new mark at 10 deg BTDC and you actual timing will be 30 deg BTDC".
Dont quite follow the sums as, if I follow him correctly, he seems to have found an extra 10 degrees, but much better idea than measuring with a tape.
GrahamMV

Graham
On our cars MK2 1600 there are only two marks before the TDC mark (10 and 5 degrees BTDC) Therefore the mark will only be 10 Deg advanced -There is your missing 10 deg? I might be wrong but some cars had 4 marks and Les may have been refering to one of those
I will stand to be corrected
Paul
P D Camp

This thread was discussed between 13/05/2009 and 15/05/2009

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.