The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Timed with Vac, now won't start

You can still tinker with the timing once you get it set to stock specifications. So get the timing set to 5 degrees, set your idle speed to the proper specification, then adjust your idle mixture screw to get your best lean idle, then readjust idle speed. Once you have that set, now you have your base line. If you want to move your timing a bit, try 2 degrees to start and see if it makes any difference. How? Well that is the thing. Usually, a stop watch and two fixed points, or the race track. Or, you could just keep advancing it until the motor pings and back off a couple degrees. I am not so sure that is "optimal". On the other hand, lets say you drag another couple of horsepower out of the motor, so 148 instead of 145. I dont know that you would ever be able to quantify those kinds of numbers in a low HP motor. So me, with a nice running stock moor that starts and shuts off without any issues, I think I would be like Ron Popeil and just set it and forget it.