1850 ignition timing eleccy ignition

[Maidstonerob]

Currently VGK is running a lumenition optronic ignition system.

Using a ignition strobe the timing is around 6-8 btdc.

The idle seems pretty steady no obvious pinking but I have still not had the chance to drive her real world on the roads. I believe the standard factory spec to be 12 btdc.

Im using minimum 97ron fuel does anyone have any ideas where I should be setting the timing please?

[sprint95m]

You can advance it quite a bit from there. Go as far as possible without inducing pinking.

(Running a 123 distributor on 95RON unleaded) I have mine running at around 15 degrees BTDC.





Ian.

[Maidstonerob]

Thanks will give her a nudge in the right direction.

[Edin Dundee]

I agree with Ian, I'm just using a £50 leccy ignition on my 1850, 99 RON fuel, and the strobe shows 16 advance. I aim to fiddle with it further this summer and see what happens.
The head has been skimmed once, but not sure what was taken off.

[trackerjack]

My Sprint was always running best on 15 deg too (luminition).

[soe8m]

Timing at idle does say nothing with a point replacement kit. If your ignition is worn the timing is alway's off. Then it's an compromise. Adjust when it's driving ok and then the idle and max advance is what you get for free. Just setting an ignition at idle does not mean it's ok for the rest of the revs.

You can set as Ian suggested for max power and that is as advanced without pinking but it can turn out that your idle timing is way off then. And that causes bad starting or irregular idle. An 1850 can have 36-38 max advance. More than that will cause power loss.

Jeroen

[tractor boy]

I fitted an accuspark unit to my 1850hl and set the timing at 8/9 degrees using a strobe and it runs fine. Any more and it tends to run a bit rougher at high revs which would suggest that auto advance is overdoing it.Tractor boy

[Maidstonerob]

Thanks all will tweak it a little if i go as far as 10-12 btdc should be close to where i need to be unless it pinks first.