ignition timing problems. Wont pink

[zacseaman]

I have tried and tried to set the timing on my 948 mog. I am having troubles to get it to pink, it gets to the point where I have lost power and yet it still wont pink, what do you guys think i should do next??
i have timed it now to where if i retard the vernier knob to maximum retard, then wind to advance the idle picks up slightly about midway through (between full retarded and full advance) and then doesnt increase anymore. so i have left it there.
Any help would be much appreciated as i have tried so many times to try and set the timing and I just cant get it to pink.
Wouldnt want to be damaging my engine unknowingly
Many thanks in adavance
Zac
I have attached an image of my distributor postion if that has any help with anything!

[kennatt]

Are you trying to get it to pink,just using the vernier ,If so then you never will,the vernier is for fine adjustment after you have set the ignition by loosening the clamp on the distributor,where it fastens into the block, and moving the whole unit clockwise and anticlockwise to get the highest tick over.

[zacseaman]

yeah i have turned the dizzy, I have it clamped now at this point shown here and symtoms stated, the stays same but power drops if i advance it further and idle drops if i twist it any further anticlockwise. Am i right in thinking i have reached the optimum?

[lambrettalad]

it will only pink under load ,not static .How is the car running ? well ? mpg ok? if the answers are good then don't worry .

[zacseaman]

yes i am testing up a steepish hill one where is drops down to 30 from 40 in 4th gear whilst climbing full throttle. she runs well and starts well, she sounds sweet as a nut, but my average mpg is 30, and i drive very carefully, i hardly use my brakes ever and drive at 55 down dual carrigeway and in town always keep a huge distance between car infront so i never have to stop just crawl all the time. so i hoped for better but not to worried about 30. mixture is spot on also.

[bmcecosse]

If it's a low compression engine - it will probably never pink - at least not audibly. Just do as you have done -adjust for smoothest idle.

[zacseaman]

OK thanks for every bodies replies so you think she will be OK? Won't melt any pistons?

[mike.perry]

Your high fuel consumption is more likely to be carb mixture setting

[zacseaman]

Plugs are light tan colour after a hard run so I don't want to fiddle with carb too much took me ages to get it where it is.. Previously the float bowl level was set too high making it a mission to set.. But re adjusted and now spot on I think beige tan colour

[bmcecosse]

Yes - light beige is pretty much ideal.

[zacseaman]

ah may have had some success! instead of pinking tonight i got a light kind of rumbling noise, could this be my pinking i am looking for? never heard it before, it got more pronounced the more i accelerated. Or could this be another new developement? Up hill at 30ish in 4th no noise at all however. hmm very confusing!

[bmcecosse]

Rumbling = not good..... You accelerate up a hill at 30 mph in top gear?? I think 2nd or perhaps 3 rd would be more suitable..... In all this - have you checked if the vacuum advance is working as it should??

[zacseaman]

i dont usually drive in 4th, just putting the engine under load so try to see if she will start pinking so i know where i am! vacuum advance is working when i suck it, the baseplate moves about 1/8th of the circumference and jumps back quickly when i stop sucking! Would be good to know where i am with timing, to get good mpg and not melt any pistons!

[zacseaman]

ok ignore the rumble.. i feel a right numpty! i didnt twist the oil cap down to its locked position so was wobbling around on top!

[bmcecosse]

Hahahahahahah - well done admitting that! And the vacuum sounds fine. 30 mpg is pretty much it unless doing long runs. Do tell us the engine number - to determine if it is a low compression unit.

[katy]

How is your hearing? Maybe you just can't hear the pinking.
Personally, I can't hear pinking any more, I could when I was younger but now I can't hear the higher frequencies.
FWIW, over here we call it pinging.

[bmcecosse]

Yes - 'pinging' here too - in fact - it is a better description of the sound.

[zacseaman]

I can hear high pitched noises, (dog whistle i can just about pickup, whilst the rest of my family cannot, maybe beacuse im a youngun), i checked the static timing as she stands and she is set at 6 btdc degrees which isnt too bad i dont think, im going to stop worrying now, it cannot be too advanced to melt pistons so im happy, 30 mpg isnt bad for such an old car considering i only drive her 9 miles each way to sixth form, and work in the evenings. Im guessing longer runs would be better for mpg, but i love the car so im not too worried This evening I tightened the clutch and oiled dizzy whilst i checked the timing, also checked valve gaps, they are all good. I dont think i have ever had clean hands since i got the beast! but i love working on it, learning how everything works.

[bmcecosse]

Engine number?????

[zacseaman]

urm not sure off the top of my head, i know she is a 1960 948 and original engine in car if that helps? i will go look if it doesnt, why do you need to know the number?