Timing marks on 400

[bugspot]

I have a 400 owners manual. In the ign.timing section they depict a harmonic balancer with 5 notches for timing marks. My 1954 and 1955 only have 4 timing notches. Can you set me staight which marks are what. As if I were standing on carb side, start with the top notch,long space,next notch,short space,next and so on. One other thing, my distributer is in good shape but rusted fast,can"t turn it. Have any trick on freeing up to turn.....Thanks. Bugspot

 

[D Slater]

If the tractor is a gasoline. Turning the crank in normal rotation the first mark that gets to the pointer is 40 degree advance,next is 30 degree, next 25 degree used for 400 gas tractor last is TDC. TDC is used for setting with engine stoped. 25 for full RPM running. Ones with five marks were used on tractors for and after the late LP head was used.
Never had one stuck that wouldn't come loose, you did get the clamp on the back side?

 

[Janicholson]

As D Slater indicates on the timing marks. The distributor should be disassembled from the cap to the gear, one part at a time. The gear must be taken off to get to the shaft. If I recall it is a taper pin or roll pin that needs to be driven out of the gear. The internal parts of the centrifugal advance mechanism is of particular importance to be in good order with good non rusty springs. If you do take it apart, take closeup pictures to be sure it is able to be put together correctly. If it is stuck, was the engine turned with it stuck? if so something is stripped. There are rebuilders that can make it new. Jim

 

[bugspot]

Hi D Slater, No I did not see the bolt clamp on the back. Wow that would be cool. I'm going out now to check. Something else. Do you think if the timing was off it might keep me from setting my low idle at 425rpm like the book says? My lowest setting was an average of 600. I'm pretty good with carbs and I did find an Idle jet almost fully clogged. Carb is actually in good shape and tight. Also, it's hard to pull shifter out of gear. Mostly 2nd when stopped. Think the high idling may contribute to that. ...Thanks, You guys are great.

 

[Janicholson]

The reason it is hard to get out of gear is either the TA needs adjustment (to the book), or you are not pushing the clutch down far enough (or Both).
The One way clutch in the TA, combined with a TA friction clutch (direct) will bind the shifter if the Direct clutch is not fully disengaged. That needs attention soonest. Jim

 

[D Slater]

It could be fast on time if someone set it by ear. When the time is set to specs, a 400 will sound like its slow on time compared to early tractors like a M, SM. Follow advice that was posted by Janicholson about hard to get out of gear. If adjusting by the book doesn't work there should be some old posts telling how to cheat on the adjustments up to a point.
Also if the advance parts are worn or broke in the distributor its hard to set the idle or the correct time. May be other problems with the idle like throttle linkage and governer adjustments, or vacum leak that keep it from slowing down.

 

[bugspot]

Jim, The Ta does not work. When you put it in it Whines. Could that have effect on pulling out of the gears. The clutch seems to be ok. Definitely getting enough push. It grabs good when engaging.
I do adjust by the book. Infact my 1955 turned out great. The ta in that one is good. I did the same with the present one we are discussing. Tell me, if I wanted to take the ta out of the 55 and put it in this one, is that a big deal to do. Would it be worth it? The engine and overall condition of the tractor with bad ta is pretty darn good. Thanks Tim

 

[Janicholson]

The answer is yes it fits, no don't do it. The reason is the labor and effort of doing it twice is not worth the reality. Adjust the bad TA so it disengeges (has throwout pressure on the linkage at the same time the real clutch does. This allows it to be completely out of the picturewith the TA forward. I would replace the bad TA with a new one and have two good usable tractors. Or sell the tractor with the good TA and use the $ for a New or rebuilt TA. Kevin Meier sells good TAs reasonably. Search for his name in the archives. Jim