Ignition timing

[Bathtub Tom]

I used the old car (KIA 1.3 carburettor manual) on a trial for the first time the other day.

It absolutely piddled down all day and the site started off as long, wet grass that deteriorated into mud.

I found the best way to drive it was as near to tickover as possible, with a very gentle throttle pedal pressure as the speed increased - the last thing you wanted to do was spin the wheels as that gave no traction whatsoever.

It kept dying! It seemed as if as soon as it got any grip, it couldn't cope and gave up! Applying more throttle at that stage also killed it.

I know these were not the usual conditions you'd expect on the road, but I found it very disappointing as the old girl had previously shown lots of promise with low down grunt so that's why I entered it for a trial.

I've checked the ignition timing with a strobe light and distributor vacuum advance disconnected and blocked and got 4 degrees BTDC at around 500 RPM. My handbook says it should be 2 degrees plus or minus one!

It doesn't 'pink' at 4 degrees BTDC.

What's the opinion on ignition timing?

[FestYboy]

sounds like impropper timing and bad vaccum advance diaphram

[Bathtub Tom]

The vacuum advance seems fine, as reconnecting the vacuum pipe advances the timing.

I wondered what everyone else sets their timing to.