Tune Up questions

[David53]

Back from my trip and treated the car to a bit of a tune up today. Cleaned and reset plug gaps, topped up dashpot, checked points gap etc. Couple of questions:

1: I decided to try and advance the timing a little with the idea that I would advance it until I noticed pinging and then retard again slightly. I started with the vernier adjuster on the dizzy and wound it as far to "advance" as it would go. However, after doing this I noticed that the engine was "burping" a bit on tickover. Not really missing' just a minor hiccup every few seconds. Most noticeable listening at the exhaust pipe. Retarding again a little made the tickover nice and even again. Any ideas?

2: How noisy should the tappets be? You can hear mine ticking away but only just. That is, they are not clacking loudly but you can hear them. Normal, or should i check the gaps?

Cheers

[mike.perry]

If you adjust the timing it is best to slacken off the distributor clamp with the engine running just enough to be able to turn the dizzy. Turn it slowly in the direction to speed up the tickover. When you have the fastest tickover tighten the clamp and any fine adjustment can be done on the vernier.
It can't do any harm to check the tappets, its easy enough on an A series engine. I don't recommend it on a side valve though.

[MarkyB]

Put the vernier back in the middle before you try the above to give you some fine adjustment.
As above also, check the tappets too.

[bmcecosse]

Sounds like the timing was fine - if advancing made it rough, and putting it back made it smooth! Leave well alone. Valve gaps (not really 'tappets' except on the side valve!) will always make themselves heard - don't worry about it!
Think of it as a well-oiled machine ticking away nicely!