I'm hoping there are enough people reading this thread for me to not start a new one....

I started the engine with the vac advance hooked up, using the new adjustable canister. After I let it warm up, at idle (800) I read 30degrees timing (static plus vacuum).



I tried to disconnect the vac advance, and the engine died. Even when I turned up the idle this happened. I wanted to check/set the static timing. Why can't I run it on static only without the engine shutting down?



Also, I did take it for a quick spin. It seemed to run fine until I stepped on it and it blew black smoke (super rich) and bogged bad. No pinging at all. Felt like 30HP. I am using middle springs on stock weights intended to come in full at 2600rpm. I'm sure I have more timing work to do but thought I would ask opinions. The weather was too bad to continue trials, but I suspect the static timing is too far retarted and that is why it was horrible under load (only), opinions?



Finally, I have never checked that my timing marks are correct by using a piston stop. Anyone have good instructions for using a piston stop to make sure TDC is the zero mark on balancer? Hard part is manually turning engine over.