Timing help for a 1952 JD A

[dgmgohl]

I'm baffled. I'm retiming a 1952 JD A that I have. I can't get it to start. I've lined up the two punch dots, lining up the dot with cover marking with the weight of the flywheel on the left hand side. When going past the timing dot, I hear the mag click. I pulled the govener cover off to replace the bearing and the the mark on the gov sprocket matches up with the dot on engine sprocket. I put a different Wico X mag on with new points and condenser. I have spark in both plugs. When depressing the starter peddle, all I get is one puff like it wants to start then it just continues to try and start. I've switched the plug wires on the mag to no avail. Is this a case where I should try and pull it to see if it will start? If anyone has a suggestion I would appreciate it. Thanks, David.

 

[brendonh]

LH impulse on the flywheel, hear click and see spark on the plug?
Oh, electric start....
Pull the cover, turn it by hand with the plugs out and see what ya get. I'd bet your about 30* retarded mostly because of the impulse spring on the mag.
It's where i'd start if I had to do it.

 

[dgmgohl]

Hello, yes in turning the flywheel there is spark in both plugs. How do you adjust the impulse spring 30* retard in the mag?

 

[brendonh]

you don't adjust it, you time to it.
you'll have to roll the mag against the spring to tension the spring a few degrees then install the mag. I like to do that with the bolts out, roll the mag into the drive slot with the flywheel on lh impulse, then keeping the mag engaged in its drive lugs, turn it until the bolts line up. It should click somewhere close to when the holes appear through the mag mounting flange.

 

[dgmgohl]

Thank you