My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: Judge on April 07, 2013, 04:22:06 PM

Title: Timing a L134
Post by: Judge on April 07, 2013, 04:22:06 PM: I finally got around to timing my Hesse Hornet as it was very difficult to start and when it does, it only runs a bit and poorly at that. (FYI the HH is an air compressor that is based on the L134 using cys 1 and 4 to run and cys 2 and 3 to compress air.) ï¿½Got out ï¿½some tools I haven't used in years --timing light, remote start switch, etc. ï¿½ ï¿½When I hooked the time light to cy1, the mark on the front pulley was at least 15 degrees BEFORE the 5 degree mark. ï¿½So, backed off the two 1/2 inch bolts holding the dist and tried to rotate it. ï¿½NO GO. ï¿½Then I noticed that the plate just under the dist. was slotted and I moved that from one extreme to the other, but that made no diff in the timing. ï¿½Should the ï¿½dist rotate, or is the plate under the dist, which seems to make sense to me, what changes things. ï¿½Could be the dist is stuck on full advance as well. ï¿½Next step??? ï¿½Too tired to mess with it more today as Spring has arrived and I am busy with outside work. ï¿½Another thing could be that the wiring is wrong. ï¿½Number ONE plug wire in the the dist is about"2 o'clock". ï¿½The HH originally had a 2 wire dist cap, I am told. ï¿½They are long gone, so my HH , like the two others I have seen, uses a 4 wire cab with cys 2 and 3 wires grounded to the block. ï¿½Thanks ï¿½
Title: Re: Timing a L134
Post by: F Bill on April 07, 2013, 04:57:21 PM: Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the distributor itself has to be turned to change the timing. It sounds like it is stuck, and a few weeks of Kroil or PB blaster soaking. and some Freeze Off applied to the distributor casting may break it free. Stuck Willys distributors are a common problem and often result in folks breaking off the distributor, so be patient and keep soaking things.

That said, adjusting your point gap MAY get the timing sufficiently close. It sounds like your points are slightly too close, which would advance the timing.
Title: Re: Timing a L134
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on April 07, 2013, 05:06:42 PM: You must turn the distributor to change the timing...sounds like it is thoroughly stuck...put some penetrating lube on it and let it sit...mine was so well stuck that I thought i would have to break it to get it out....

When you time it the slotted plate remains fixed, and the dist will turn throughout the range allowed by the slot..
Title: Re: Timing a L134
Post by: garage gnome on April 07, 2013, 06:49:33 PM: Tap it lightly with a hammer from the bottom too after soaking it for a while. And I mean LIGHTLY! When you reinstall, coat the end in grease. You'll thank yourself later. ï¿½;)
Title: Re: Timing a L134
Post by: Judge on April 07, 2013, 08:05:28 PM: Thanks for the responses. As I noted above, it has been some time since I messed with a distributor and a timing lights, although I currently maintain 11 vehicles, and only 2 have distributors. . I'll work on the dist and have some consolation that a stuck dist is NOT uncommon on a L134. I tsill wonder if the dist. cap is wired correctly. I think I'll hook the timing light to the grounded number 2 wire --remember number 2 cy does not fire, but is part of the air compression system. Regards
Title: Re: Timing a L134
Post by: CJPilot on April 07, 2013, 08:45:27 PM: My distributor was stuck as well. ï¿½I soaked for a week or so and ended up using my chain vice grip to finally get it to move.

Best of Luck
Steve
Title: Re: Timing a L134
Post by: athawk11 on April 08, 2013, 11:39:05 AM: Judge,

Did the distributor rotate from one edge of the slot to the other edge of the slot on the backing plate? If so, the distributor may not be stuck. Can you post a photo?

It sounds like you may have an off brand distributor similar to mine. I couldn't time mine correctly until I re-indexed the oil pump.

Tim