How to adjust the timing on a suffolk punch

Your BTDC timing mark should be on the flywheel 23 degrees clockwise from the TDC one so that in normal clockwise rotation of the flywheel it arrives at the TDC mark on the back plate ahead of the TDC on the flywheel. Nothing wrong with your points opening detection method but using a thin bit of paper (fag paper) between the points and feeling for its release saves the un-soldering and re-soldering and is accurate enough for a cast iron Suffolk..

Very easy, just do the first part of '1.'

I wouldn't bother doing  the rest, you will not notice any difference if the timing is slightly wrong, the main thing is to set the points correctly. When I was a lot younger, I would service hundreds of these engines during winter overhauls and would only clean and reset the points. I could never notice any difference in running, between engines serviced in this way and ones where I did reset the timing.

hortimech

"Very easy, just do the first part of '1.' "

So should I adjust the magneto plate to be in the middle of the screw slots as I'm not sure where it was originally?

Wristpin

"Your BTDC timing mark should be on the flywheel 23 degrees clockwise from the TDC one so that in normal clockwise rotation of the flywheel it arrives at the TDC mark on the back plate ahead of the TDC on the flywheel "

Not sure what you mean ? if i use 23 degrees mark right of the tdce mark the the breaker is always open where ever I rotate the magneto back plate but if I use 23 degrees mark left of the tdce mark there is latitude for adjustment but the back plate is rotated almost fully clockwise

Sorry for appearing thick but I think I may have misunderstood this procedure!

Replying from the phone as landline and broadband are down and Openreach have given an estimated fix date of the 27th!!!!!!!!!!.

Don't follow the points issue as the amount of movement is governed by the profile of the cam which  remains constant Maybe removing the head and dropping the piston by the requisite amount would be an easier way of doing it.

"dropping the piston by the requisite amount"

Sorry not sure what you mean:

What amount would that be?

I would be interested in what procedure you had in mind -

BTW thanks for replying

bump

Unless you are fitting a new backplate, it should be marked from where it was before, if not, just centre the bolts in the slots and tighten them. These engines are that low powered it doesn't really matter if the timing is slightly out.

If you do want to set the timing exactly, remove the cylinder head so that you can find the exact top dead centre, then turn the engine backwards to 22 - 24 degrees before TDC, at this point the points should just be opening.

Thanks for that.

That's exactly what I have done to set the timing exact on both engines.

I wasn't sure if I had done it correctly