The basic query I have is about setting up the timing gears as shown by the diagram on page 120, Fig 59 in the Paul Richardson book.
Is the engine at TDC for this diagram?
The reason I ask is that I have had the bike for 52 years and used to set it as the book and have no reason to think that the crankshaft pinion has ever been changed. Some years ago I found that the dot on my crank pinion was not in this book position at TDC and in fact was one tooth different.
Because the performance was not quite as good as I would like I therefore set up the timing with the engine at TDC with the other gears as the book - ie. one tooth different.
There was little or no difference in the performance (I did also reset the ignition timing)!!!!
The cams are I believe correctly marked with equal valve lift on the overlap with the dots lined up on the cam gears in line with the spindle centres.
I have driven the Comet to Liverpool for the Manx GP and Vintage Rally several times now (about 1200 miles each time) with my TDC timing and it will cruise at 60-70 mph fairly happily and ticks over very slowly and evenly.
However it seems a bit gutless up the mountain (down to 35-40 in 2nd gear after the Gooseneck) and I wonder if I should reset it to the book with the crank pinion one tooth away from TDC.
The cams do not look worn, but I seem to remember it went much better 48 years ago when I went 2up to Paris, Down the Rhine Vally to Austria, then round the Dolomites, over the Grossglockner Pass and back home. - Perhaps I was lighter then (but not much) and I seem to remember cruising at 80mph down the Autobahns with little effort and it pulling very well up the mountains. It also has a slightly higher compression ratio now (from 6.8 to 7.3) so I would expect it to be EVEN MORE POWERFUL !!
Can anyone advise on the correct method of timing please because the books I have do not specify the cam settings with respect to a timing disc, TDC etc. only lining up dots which could have been mismarked by the factory in 1952.
Is the engine at TDC for this diagram?
The reason I ask is that I have had the bike for 52 years and used to set it as the book and have no reason to think that the crankshaft pinion has ever been changed. Some years ago I found that the dot on my crank pinion was not in this book position at TDC and in fact was one tooth different.
Because the performance was not quite as good as I would like I therefore set up the timing with the engine at TDC with the other gears as the book - ie. one tooth different.
There was little or no difference in the performance (I did also reset the ignition timing)!!!!
The cams are I believe correctly marked with equal valve lift on the overlap with the dots lined up on the cam gears in line with the spindle centres.
I have driven the Comet to Liverpool for the Manx GP and Vintage Rally several times now (about 1200 miles each time) with my TDC timing and it will cruise at 60-70 mph fairly happily and ticks over very slowly and evenly.
However it seems a bit gutless up the mountain (down to 35-40 in 2nd gear after the Gooseneck) and I wonder if I should reset it to the book with the crank pinion one tooth away from TDC.
The cams do not look worn, but I seem to remember it went much better 48 years ago when I went 2up to Paris, Down the Rhine Vally to Austria, then round the Dolomites, over the Grossglockner Pass and back home. - Perhaps I was lighter then (but not much) and I seem to remember cruising at 80mph down the Autobahns with little effort and it pulling very well up the mountains. It also has a slightly higher compression ratio now (from 6.8 to 7.3) so I would expect it to be EVEN MORE POWERFUL !!
Can anyone advise on the correct method of timing please because the books I have do not specify the cam settings with respect to a timing disc, TDC etc. only lining up dots which could have been mismarked by the factory in 1952.