Questioni have a 1960 triumph .the entire ignition n magneto are built together , i have had it rebuilt but have no idea how to time the unit to the motor any help would b appreciated.
AnswerGeorge,
-Triumph magnetos are usually set fully advanced
or the advance cable or weights moved into
the full advance position.
-If this is your first time setting this
up I suggest doing it more simply by
turning the engine until the intake
valve opens and then bringing the pistons
up to top dead center (TDC) on the
compression stroke.
-Next, your points should be set to just
crack open with the pistons in this
TDC position. This is with no advance.
(If you are going to try to lock the advance
in the full postion the pistons need
to be 3/8" back or down from TDC.)
-You can use the old cigarette paper
trick to see if the points are starting to
open at TDC. Put the paper between the points
contacts and gently pull. It should release
when the points break open.
-On the end of the magneto is a gear on a taper,
if the points are way off, this gear may need
to be pulled and put back on in a place
where the points are able to be set to open
on TDC with a preset gap of about .012"-.014"
-The main thing here is to get the points in
a position where they just break open
and create a spark with the engine at TDC.
OR fully advanced at 3/8" before top dead center.
-The points gap can be changed slightly or the gear
can be pulled and put back on in a different
position. Be careful of any parts
made of bakelite that can break easily, inside
the magneto cap.
-the gear is on a taper which means it can go
back on in any place but be careful when
tightening the bolt as it may put
pressure on other magneto gears made
of a fibre material. These gears have
teeth that could strip or break from
excessive twisting on the taper gear.
-if the engine kicks back badly when starting
it means the points are opening too soon,
try closing the points gap slightly.
