Trying to check timing on engine

[pchristensen]

serial #0a137330
1985 Mariner 2.4 175 hp

Hoping someone can please help me out again. I got my engine all back together and it was a little hard to start but does run and hasn't died on the muffs. I pulled the plugs and grounded the ignition wires to check the idle timing but I only get a strobe now and then from my timing light. So I put the timing light lead on #3 and same thing. Then I put my original switch boxes back on and same thing. So then I removed kill circuit and yellow rectifier wires but still intermittent strobe from timing light. My timing light is a digital Snap-on from the 80's that also has a tach.Tomorrow I am going to try a different timing light. My trigger is new oem and the stator is a cdi less than a year old. I am thinking I will run engine and check rpm's on each cylinder with the timing light to see what I get. Is there something I might be overlooking or can you recommend what to check next ? Thanks

[pchristensen]

I am running a 100 to 1 in the tank plus the oil injection for break in. I was trying to check the timing on a dead cold engine and my plugs are very wet, will this cause a no spark or should my ignition system be strong enough to show it is sparking on the timing light ?. Should I warm up the engine and then try to set the timing ?. I have a inline spark tester I connected the other day to all cylinders after I had warmed the engine up, it showed continuous purple looking spark. The tester is a lisle brand ?. Will engine be harder to start with the extra oil ?, any help greatly appreciated !

[JOE54]

just check it running shouldnt be that hard to start with 100;1 id used 50;1 ,done hundreds fired right up

[silverbullet02]

Sounds like timing light might be bad. Doesn’t matter how much oil is in there, you can run double oil and it should run the same, maybe a hair smokier.

[pchristensen]

just check it running shouldnt be that hard to start with 100;1 id used 50;1 ,done hundreds fired right up

Thanks Joe I will set it running then see if I can set wot timing not running after warm up. It had a stalling problem before I took powerhead apart. I replaced trigger but I have a feeling I have a ignition problem?

[pchristensen]

Sounds like timing light might be bad. Doesn’t matter how much oil is in there, you can run double oil and it should run the same, maybe a hair smokier.

That would be nice. I’m trying another light tomorrow. Thanks

[pchristensen]

Ok good news it was the timing light, borrowed a buddies from work and strobe was consistent. Removed idle box and set idle timing to 4 degrees atdc and wot timing to 20 degrees btdc. Will just need to try it at the river where it would die at idle and did not want to accelerate. I also marked the flywheel for each cylinder and timing light showed those cylinders when I connected timing light pick up lead to each cylinder. Can anyone please tell me where I should set the idle rpm when on the muffs that would make it close to being correct when I am in the river. Also does anyone have a trick to holding the flywheel while torquing the crankshaft nut ? Thanks for all the help !

[JOE54]

id try 950 and may need to adjust some in river/ get you a strap type flywheel holder

[pchristensen]

Thanks for the help Joe, a buddy at work loaned me a flywheel holder and I got the crank nut torqued. He also loaned me a Snap on timing light that has a tach that is much like mine. His light also will not read rpms and the timing strobe is very unstable. My ? is do you need a timing light that is for 2 stroke ? I see where some of the lights have a switch for 2 and 4 stroke. I mainly need a tachometer for setting my idle, does anyone have a recommendation?

[JOE54]

i have 3 and all work fine on 2strk, Merc has some good analog tachs many diff styles

[pchristensen]

Well I had a chance to take boat out today and it started and ran with no issues, idles and accelerates good. Only thing I noticed that was different now is my temp gauge goes down to cold after getting on plane ? temp gauge use to stay up around halfway. Only thing I can imagine that might have changed that is the blown midsection divider gasket I found when I removed the plate. It was blown between cooling side and exhaust side. I still have the 10 psi water pressure at idle. Thanks to everyone who helped me get our boat back on the water!

[JOE54]