I'm not sure of the cable gauge, I'll check that though.
my initial timing is probably something like 12 or 14, and I also use a vacuum advance that takes it up to a solid 35 at idle, the motor won't idle well without that vacuum advance.

but in general when the carb is primed fully it will fire within a second of cranking.
I just ran it today and after sitting all week it cranked like normal again.