Need help with Panhead timing
Thread Starter
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Stage I
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
Need help with Panhead timing
Having trouble timing 48 Panhead, points not opening with flywheel timing mark at inspection window. Points set, front cylinder pushrods in lowest position (can spin with fingers). Distributor head turned to advance position. Points fiber aligned with cam timing mark. Test light will light only when flywheel timing mark is just past (forward) of inspection window. Does distributor need to be lifted and turned? Assistance greatly appreciated.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,817
Likes: 1,457
From: Sydney Australia
@48panhead I have moved this thread from the Forum Issues section to the Panheadsection as you will get better responses to your question in this section.
The Forum Issues section is to discuss any issues you are having with the Harley Davidson Forum software, not asking motorcycle technical questions.
The Forum Issues section is to discuss any issues you are having with the Harley Davidson Forum software, not asking motorcycle technical questions.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Aligning the fiber to the mark is only to set your point gap not to time the motor. Set the gap , I ‘m guessing .018 to .020. Don’t have the manual in front of me. Take out plugs, jack rear wheel off the ground and put the bike in fourth gear. Rotate engine until front cylinder is on compression stroke and mark is in the rear of the timing hole. Don’t know if you have a manual or automatic timer but should be on full advance. The points should just open (test light out) at this position. If not, adjust accordingly. This is all covered in the service manual which I assume you have. If not you need to get one. Good luck.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 23
From:
It's been a long time since Ive done it but not knowing what fly wheels & distributor is in the motor some times using the flywheel marks won allow correct timing.. The method I used to use is do like FL54 said about the points first then ..using a straw or something soft stick it in the spark plug hole and and measure the front cyl piston 7/16 " before TDC on compression stroke by putting it in a gear using the wheel to turn over motor.....lock down the distributor...fire it up...then if needed fine tune the distributor when it 's running...
