Slight pinking - how to retard

[Arthurdaily]

Hi all, I found out about this before by trawlling through loads of old posts, and saved them - but my computer broke and had to get a new one and so lost all bookmarks!!! But need an answer to this asap, as need to work on the morris first thing in the morning ready for a run. Anyway, when accelerating I hear a distinct 'ball bearing hitting a tin can' sound which I think must be the mysterious pinking, so, I know I need to retard the timing, and this is done initially by turning the screw by the distributor yes? Question is which way? If this doesn't work, which way do you TWIST the whole distributor?

Second question, sometimes the idle is faster than others... no choke, engine warm... why might this be?

Thanks all!

[chrisryder]

just by the knob on the dizzy, there will be a A <---> R marking. twist it towards the A to advance, and towards the R to retard.

erratic idle could be an air leak around the carburettor, either on the gaskets between the carb and the manifold, or where the manifold meets the head.

[bmcecosse]

Or the throttle cable sticking slightly - does it have a little 'free play' at the carb?

[Arthurdaily]

Very little free play BMC, should it have a little?

[bmcecosse]

Yes! So the throttle plate can always seat down correctly.

[Arthurdaily]

Right, will alter... whilst sweating over the bump stops...

[scotthesniper]

ok guys i have the same problem as above will i need to get a timing light to do this or just do as above with distributor.

regards
scot

[bmcecosse]

No need for a timing light........ Just make small adjustments till it stops pinking.

[Arthurdaily]

Hi, tried the small knob - but still making the tin sound when accelerating in third or fourth... so which way do I twist the whole distributor to make more of a difference... maybe the sound I'm hearing ISN'T pinking - !! i'll try a light anyway though just to see, it is only a 12 volt bulb and a couple of bits of wire eh? A few pence from local shop Scot.

[bmcecosse]

What will you do with this 'light' ??????? The rotor turns anticlockwise - so to retard the timing you turn the body anticlockwise too.

[Arthurdaily]

Thelight? Line up the pulley between the two marks, then attach the bulb between the two low power cables on the coil and then twidle the adjustment knob until the light comes on?

Is that not one method?

[bmcecosse]

Waste of time really - but do carry on!

[Arthurdaily]

That is the way the official club DVD says to do it! How then, if that is wrong, do you do it BMC? Help greatly appreciated.

[MarkyB]

The official club DVD is fine, it may not be the way to get the absolute best from your engine, but there is nothing wrong with it.

[bmcecosse]

Official Club DVD...... ?? Just start the car - then twiddle the timing back and forth until you get the very best idle. Then road test it - and listen for any 'pinking'. If you hear it - retard slightly, if you don't hear it - advance slightly until you DO - then retard slightly so it's 'not quite' pinking. Simples!

[Arthurdaily]

Used the bulb method, and, compared to how it was before... perfection! Then advanced it slightly until pinking and then retarded. All perfect now. Thanks for everybody's help.

[MarkyB]

Nice work!
I expect it needed moving what we used to describe as a gnats penis .
We used another word, but the site doesn't like it, just as well we aren't poultry farmers!