48 cub timming for more torque

[BarnyardEngineering]

I always had enough power to pull my 12" plow until my governor broke.I just seen vedio on YouTube where the person said he would time the magneto for road driving advance timming and retard the timming for the tractor to work in the field.Is that correct?

No. It is not correct. There is pretty much one "sweet spot" where the tractor runs well, and produces peak power. If you are not at that sweet spot the tractor will sound strained at idle, stumble when you quickly move the throttle to wide open, and/or generally not run right.

 

[farmersamm]

Call me old fashioned, but I truly believe that factory specs, such as timing, are for a reason. As a kid, I thought I knew better, but soon outgrew it.

All of this stuff is on a curve, established by the engineers who designed the system. They most likely found that parameters, that fell within that curve, worked well in most situations...............WITHOUT DAMAGING THE ENGINE. You start advancing timing, and you can get preignition. Very hard on bearings, and valves.

Wanna change "power", which is a function of motion/work done..............................you need to change the basics of the engine design. Changing stroke, displacement, etc. On the output side, you can utilize the available power more efficiently by changing gear ratios. All the while, remembering that torque is a moment in time, while horsepower is the ability to maintain that torque over an extended period........to do work.

It's the dream of the uninitiated, to tweak their way to success. It is a dream.

 

[rustred]

Yep, years ago we had an old instructor. He said there is specs to follow. He said , And when I set the engine to spec it runs pretty darn good! Never forgot his saying. You ear timers might learn something. Sure I can time by ear also , slight chance going to hit the factory spec. Even the GM’s had a mark on dist and block showing dist position of factory timing. Then u got a starting point if u want to advance couple degrees say on a road test without hooking up a timing light. And I know in the garage I have never saw anyone ear time an engine and say ok done!

 

[jsdorn]

Have you adjusted the rod from the carb to the governor? Does it open the carb all the way?

Do you mean the adjustment at the connections of the rod from the carb to the rod that goes to the governor? On the left side?

 

[jsdorn]

Engines certainly get to rated RPM without the throttle plate being fully open. High Idle is maybe 35% open. But if power is required, and the linkage will not allow full opening of the throttle plate in the carb, it will be power limited. I assume the timing is within reason, and the carb is flowing fuel, and the cylinders are all working (compression and firing order correct enough. Jim

Th cub runs goog just no power to plow

 

[560Dennis]

Ive had issue's with pulling a plow way to deep because my plow wasn’t set up correctly which seems like a tractor problem . It wasnt the tractor at all .