Thread: 30 degrees of advance at idle?

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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.

screw piston stop into your number 1 spark plug hole, turn engine by hand until the piston hits it and you cant turn it.... make a mark on the balancer where the pointer is pointing, turn it the opposite direction until the piston gets stopped again, and make a mark on your balancer where the pointer is pointing, then measure with a precision measuring device such as a quality seamstress measuring tape and mark exactly dead center of those two marks, and thats your true top dead center mark

take note that it doesn't matter weather you are on compression or exhaust stroke seeing as the mark will always be in the same spot in relation to piston position regardless of valve train..... if your timing mark is off, buy timing tape for your size balancer and you'll have nice quality timing marks that are easy to see.....

and yes it sounds like your static timing may be a little retarded, which will cause engine to not run well or at all with out some advance added to it.... check with the piston stop and add the timing tape to be able to get here better in sync