Locking Out Timing
 

Has anybody locked out there timing? If so what are the advanges of doing this and what did you set your timing at.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

i locked it out on my na and blown engines, running crane hi 6 ign which takes care of the timing advance. there are several different curves for various applications.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

I locked mine out set timing at 34 deg no problems. I did this after Nickerson re-worked my carb it was there recommendation. I have full MSD system which made it easy to lock it out.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

My 510 c.i. 645 h.p. N/A Sterlings have the timing locked out @ 34*. No problems with in-gear idle @ 600 rpm.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

What are the advantages?

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

Mostly for better idle with big cams. 20 years ago when cars had distributers, they ran vacuum advance. You would set your timing at about 12 degrees before tdc and during periods of high vacuum,(idling and cruising) the vacuum advance would add another 16 degrees or so. Add to that the mechanical advance and there were periods of time when you would be cruising on the highway at 45 degrees of advance. Locking out the timing is not such a radical idea.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

I have never locked out timing due to driveability Marine and auto, even with cams @ 625 lift 112 deg duration and have had excellent results. HOWEVER, I will be running a blower this year and many blower guys run it locked. So, for those who know.... What are the advantages? I believe that running locked at too high an advance creates starting problems as well as detonation down low in the RPM band.... Am I wrong here????

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

Yes it will start hard. I added MSD start retard boxes and use Tilton style starters. Before that it ate a bunch of starters. If you lock the timing in an engine with a mild cam, you will build a lot of cyl. pressure at lower rpm's. It probably would detonate a lot. Again the only reason I know of to lock the timing is to improve the idle in engines with big cams.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

I ran locked on my blower motor and presently running locked on my NA 540.
29-30 degrees Blower.
33-34 degrees NA.
Cam in 540 is 236/240 @ .050
I also use an MSD Digital 6 Plus ignition. It has a start retard feature.
I have experimented with using the start retard and not using it. It does make some difference but actually have disarmed the feature. Motor starts fine without it.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

I'm leaning toward the six cylinder Thunderbolt box with a B&M 420 MB, I think it has about 12 deg or so advance. This would let me have initial at approx 19 deg and full advance at 31 or so. Have you guys had any luck with this setup?

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

How do you go about " locking out " the advance in the distributor?

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

I don't think you can with the stock Merc. distributor. I replaced mine with MSD. Any distributor you have to glue the rotor in place is junk as far as I'm concerned. It's easy to lock out the MSD by removing the springs, weights, advance bushing. Then you remove the gear lift the shaft up turn 180 deg. set it down lining up the pin and hole, but the nut and washer on the pin then install the gear and it's locked. I don't think I missed a step.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

"Locked" , sounds like the cover to a problem. AGAIN!!!! has anyone run the 6 cyl control unit?

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

Ghittner,
Locked timing is not the cover to a problem.
Also, if you want an answer to your question, I suggest that you start a thread instead of hijacking this one.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

That is correct for the msd. The merc distributor is "locked" since it has no advance mechanism and relies on the electronics in the box to advance the timing. I have used a merc dist with a crane hi-6 for a set advance.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

I've run the V6 box on a 177/454 and 250/502 combo with great results. Excellent choice IMHO. Add an MSD if you have carbon fowling at idle.
Gary

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

So when a locked out disrtibutor is in ,the timing is always the same . ?IMy timing seams not to fluctuate with a timing light at 1000 rpms or 3500 ?It stays the same . These are Joey Griffin blower motors ? He knows what he is doing im sure. Am I missing something . Or is it the same all the time with a locked out distributor ?

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

YEP. It will be the same all day long IDLE to WOT.

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

Thank you thats what I needed to know !!! But it seams odd to me to be starting an engine at 30 degrees . Is this ok. ? Sometimes its hard to crank .

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

Does any one have a chart of advance for the 6 cyl. module??
Total advance?How much?and where to get one or two in my case?Sorry for the hyjack.

Thanks Nordic95

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

My timing is locked out at 34*. It is only while I am turning the key at the helm to actually start the engine(s) does it retard the engine to about 16* or so in order that the engine will turn over easier. As soon as I release the key the engine immediately goes back to 34*. We rigged/wired our own little tiny start/retard box to do this---works great!

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

I was setting the initial on a TB V the other day. They say to ground the wire before starting to lock out the electronic advance, which I did. After that, I experimented with not locking it, and it made no difference that I could tell. I wonder if I was doing something wrong. :confused:

Re: Locking Out Timing
 

Kaama

do you have a diagram/explanation for what you did?