Your Timing Advancer May Be Screwing You

I just bought a NOS timing advancer(not even 5 minutes ago) in the box for $55 off of Ebay.

Small block Chevy springs for a HEI advancer work. An assortment is available from most part stores.

gearheadmm wrote: Small block Chevy springs for a HEI advancer work. An assortment is available from most part stores.

I was going to say the springs look similar to my MSD distributor springs. They come with two soft, two medium, and two stiff springs. I used both soft in my last car and total timing(38*) was all in by 2000 rpms. You can buy the MSD spring kits by themselves(they come with the bushings for mechanical advance for car engines)

The ignition advance tracks what the engine needs to make power. Here is the curve for 750 twin from the manual. After I made new springs, mine advances faster than the curve but seems to run better. I run premium gas to make sure it doesn't ping. Note that the advancing action doesn't start until about 1500 RPM.

I got the msd hei springs on the way which look like they have the same bends but are wider than the stock springs . Theres two sets a soft set and a tougher set so I will see which set works better and post some info on them as soon as I get them in lol

Dot to read later...

this thread is so true. If your bike is running poor, check your advancer out - then check it again. It screwed me for almost a year.

I was taller, better looking and about ten pounds lighter back when I started this thread.... :laugh:

Does anyone have the stock advance curve for a 77 kz1000? Also would the curve need to change if a Dyna ignition and 3 Ohm coils are installed?

richrand wrote: Does anyone have the stock advance curve for a 77 kz1000? Also would the curve need to change if a Dyna ignition and 3 Ohm coils are installed?

Same curve with Dyna ignition and 3 Ohm coils.

Good Fortune!

I'm going to have to check mine out, could be one of the million things keeping me from achieving tuning Zen.

I see things like this and I think...WTF

Fire up the bike. Put a timing light on your advancer and let it sit there idling.

Do the marks jump around?

Bring the RPM up to 2000.

Do the marks jump around?

Bring the RPM up to 3000.

Do the marks jump around?

If yes

---

springs are shot
If no

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go ride it and find something else to tinker with..

If you're trying to tune out jittery running conditions at just barely open throttle,, work your mixture screws. Fuel screws especially cause this. So does slide cut away and needle clip position.

Put your bike in 1st gear and ride it at 1500 RPM. Try to hold a stead 1500. Then try to hold a steady 2000, then 3000. If you can't, try adjusting your mixture screws first to get rid of that glitch.