Timing problem?

[mikeatchison#1]

Hey guys i have a 1990 Blaster that im wanting to advance the timing. I have simply turned the flywheel the necessary amount to advance it by 4 degrees but when i check with a timing light the timing has not changed at all, i even advanced it as much as 15 degrees with no change on the light at all. any ideas why my ignition timing has not changed when i have advanced the flywheel?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Surfrjag]

the flywheel turns all the time so your notdoing anything by turning it. you need to turn the timing plate behind the flywheel. find the diy thread on it.... you will needa flywheel removal tool.

 

[mikeatchison#1]

the flywheel turns all the time so your notdoing anything by turning it. you need to turn the timing plate behind the flywheel. find the diy thread on it.... you will needa flywheel removal tool.

isn't their some type of magnetic trigger in the flywheel that fires the ignition? if so what would be the difference of turning the stator or the flywheel?

 

[toytech]

isn't their some type of magnetic trigger in the flywheel that fires the ignition? if so what would be the difference of turning the stator or the flywheel?

how are you turning the flywheel ? it should have a key way to align it

 

[99LRDblaster]

The flywheel spins while the engine is running. It has no DIRECT relation to altering timing. You have to pull the flywheel off with a flywheel puller and then you will see the stator plate behind the flywheel. As the magnets pass the STATOR, they initiate the spark. This is why you move the stator plater to advance or retard the timing.
http://www.blasterforum.com/do-yourself-20/diy-4-degree-timing-advance-pics-2417/

 

[sicivicdude]

What about the split flywheel key Vito's sells a degree key to advance the timing?

It moves the flywheel forward 4 degrees to pass by the trigger coil earlier compared to the crankshaft.

It's just weaker and more likely to strip than a regular keyway.

Plus it's super easy to slot the stator plate to move the timing instead of messing with the key.

The reason the timing didn't move when you moved the flywheel is because you were moving what you were shining the timing light at. You were advancing the timing (ignition event compared to the piston/crank position) by moving the flywheel timing but you can't see the piston/ crank position from the outside. You would move the flywheel and the light would show the flywheel at the same position because the trigger position is at the same location inside the flyhweel so the timing light is showing the same place.

If you were shining the timing light at the clutch gear, it would have moved as you moved the flyhweel....

 

[99LRDblaster]

What about the split flywheel key Vito's sells a degree key to advance the timing?

It moves the flywheel forward 4 degrees to pass by the trigger coil earlier compared to the crankshaft.

It's just weaker and more likely to strip than a regular keyway.

Plus it's super easy to slot the stator plate to move the timing instead of messing with the key.

The reason the timing didn't move when you moved the flywheel is because you were moving what you were shining the timing light at. You were advancing the timing (ignition event compared to the piston/crank position) by moving the flywheel timing but you can't see the piston/ crank position from the outside. You would move the flywheel and the light would show the flywheel at the same position because the trigger position is at the same location inside the flyhweel so the timing light is showing the same place.

If you were shining the timing light at the clutch gear, it would have moved as you moved the flyhweel....

Degree keys were the thing to have 10 years ago. Don't see them much anywhere now though because they shear so easily. They work though. Vito's doesn't even sell there degree key anymore I don't believe. Stator plates are more reliable..........and more profitable for manufacturer's these days.

 

[sicivicdude]

But moving the flyhweel does move the timing relative to the crankshaft (which is the same thing the stator plate does but without the weak link of a partially sheared key to begin with).

The reason the timing seemed not to move is because the ignition system is triggered by a small pickup coil on the inside of the flywheel. You were moving the timing event relative to the piston and crankshaft but the ignition event was happening at the same position on the flywheel so it looked like it wasn't moving.

Like I said, if you had been aiming your timing light at the primary drive gear (other end of the crankshaft) you would have seen the results you were expecting.