Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-29

Timing the Distributor system.
To time Il distributor system. or Tor
that matter any ignition system. the
first thing to do Is TO determine those
things, to find which II IL necessary
to turn over the engine trevolve the
crank shafD. then the engine must
be set so that the piston Of one OF ;he
cylinders Is in the position wher" the
spark must come. ana then the spark
giving or timing instrument is set so
as TO give the spark ut this moment.
The best practice ~ TO set cylinder
No. ] in the position for the spark. as
II this cylinder IS timed right. tn"
others will also he timed right The
steps to take to time distributor
system are therefore as follows:
J.. Determine the direction In which
the shaft ON which the distributor in
atrument Is set, rotatcs when the en-
ginc is running. This is don. by turn
Ing the engine over By hand and
watching this shaft
.. Find the firing order. as explained
in lesson No ..
3. Set the piston OF cylinder No
AT the top dead center between the
compression and power strokes In
lesson No. the method Of doing this
was gone into in detail.
We are now ready to set tn. spark
giving or timing instrument so az 10
give the spark at this time. Let us
sec what must happen in order that
We can TRANSFORMS the low voltage cur
rent OF our battery into The nigh volt
age necessar? to have the current jump
across the spark plug points and thus
give the spark? Why the low volt
age or primary current must be inter
rupted. or IN other words the inter
rupter points must Just open. II would
be we'll for the reader 10 clearly under
stand tho above. as the timing OF any
ignition system resolves Itself down
TO the doing o! three tiinpa. namely:
setting cylinder No. ready for the
spark. setting the ignition system so
that the interruptcr points just begin
10 open. and connecting the wires to
| the cylinders that the secondary
current will be seat to the spark plugs
In the airing order. When We make
the vibrator of IN. four-unt system
lust begin TO NITRATE. We are really
lust opening the intcrrupter points.
The Instrument.
Figures ]. and 2 OF tho illustration
show the parts "f tho distributor Sys-
tern instrument. i'iI. | being the bot.
tom portion containing the intprruptor
Fig. = the distributor which set. on top
OF this and which contains lie col
lfCtor points or s+gmcHts X. and Fig
the distributor brush which sets on
the shaft f.. and, revolving distributes
the secondary current from In" con
tact point To thc scEmcnts * and
thus through the wires TO The sparii
plugs one after the other. II thrsr
. wires be connected TO the spark
plugs in the firing order the current
vii! thus go TO them in this order
While there ara number Of WAYS
for fastening the distributor instru-
ment TO the engine driven shaft c.
the majority OF them are fastened as
shown In tho illustrations that is h.,
q az
are from two to four You will notice
mat all thai is necessary in orde. 10
take the instrument out Of The car
VIII lie 10 disconncct Tie rod /, ana
uhscrew the set screws y when il
can be pulled of OF the shaft G.
III you held the drum in YOUR hand
and reHolved the sleeve IL YOU would
find that The cam :. and shaft f. would
rcVol:e with II. ana II toU put tn. dis
tributor brush Fig. Z on the shat, C.
you would also ma that every time
The interrupte: points opened the brush
would be in cOntact with one Of III,
! segments Il when the distributor drum
liz in place. The dowl pin : makes il
Impossible 10 pu, the distributor on
IN more 'hRr one position. Having
seen the action of the various PARTS
Of the instrument. let us pat IT back
connect the rod L which is operated by
the spark control lever on III. steer
ing column. ana proceed with our
timing.
4. Retard spark control lever fully
and then advanc" il about three quar-
tiers Of an inch as mca sured on its
sector.
.. Take hold of the sleeve u and
slowly revoive the cam T., in the di-
rection OF rotation, until the INTERRUPT
Ter points just begin to open and then
hasten the instrument by tightening
the set-screws a.
Care Miist lie EAerciscd.
Care must Ire taken in doing this
10 have the points just begin TO open
and to revolve in the direction the
shaft c rcvolvcS when the engine is
running.
6. Put on the diStiibut ~ brush ard
Then note which of the contact s"..
ments ii will come in contact with
:. Put on the distributor and con-
meet the segment you noticed would be
in contact with the brush To the spaI,;
plug OF Cylinder No. T.
$. Connect the remaining scemnnts
TO the spark plugs in the firing ord -
thus IL the firing order lie I-3-4-o. lie