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1993 FLSTC. My rear cylinder seems to be running awfully hot and I'm getting some preignition. Do I need to advance or retard? I opened the cover and found the plate was loose and may have moved! I've seen guys set this by eye but I have no idea what position it should be in. Any thoughts?
And no, I don't have a timing light and nobody to be on the other side of the bike. Maybe some one could post a picture of theirs so I can at least get close.
You can't set the ignition timing by looking at anything inside the cam cover. There are ways to set the static idle timing with a volt ohm meter, probing wires that come from the ignition pickup. I'd have to look at the wiring diagram to tell you which wires.
Timing it with the bike running using a timing light is the best and easiest way to set the timing accurately.
If you want to guess at it, try putting it back on the witness marks made from probably where it lived before.
Remember the cam turns counter clockwise, so turning the sensor counter clockwise retards the timing.
Use the correct tools or pay someone to do things correctly. YouTube is your friend.
Pay the few extra dollars for the adjustable one. But remember, modifications, fuel, elevation, a rainy day will make a little difference in how advance makes it run.
So maybe modify it from the book to real changes, not how it sounds or feels one day.
The advance is not because electricity is slow, it's because the flame is when the sparkplug sets it off.
Set it to the book will make the old girl run best for all conditions..
I have Not used a Timing light in Eons!! Static Time, then adjust as Needed for Peak Performance..
Excess heat is almost always Not enough Advance...but, pre-ignition is almost always Too much Advance..
Kick back on Starter is Alot too much Advance..
Setting Every Engine up the Exact same is only going to lead to Average, or maybe good enough, Performance..
Great for a Shop...Not Me.
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Timing question.
Use the correct tools or pay someone to do things correctly. YouTube is your friend.
