Timing

[Cincinnati Guy]

I got the meter from Gary today. I cant wait to get er timed properly. I did a little thinking today. I know what these are meant to be timed at factory( Back in 94) but that was when you didn't have to worry about the ULSD like in today's world. Does this change what we should/need to be timing our trucks at to accommodate for the newer less sulfur diesel?

 

[riotwarrior]

That's a very very good question, one I am certain others will pipe in and comment on.

 

[icanfixall]

If you can find any factory writeups on timing they read like this.... 8.5 dbtdc + or - 2 degrees... So if your at 6.5 dbtdc or 10.5 dbtdc your perfect... The kent moore meter I sent you can split each degree into 10 parts easily. The computer is that precise in them. I personally run around 9.5 and call it great. Running 10 degrees advanced wont hurt a thing either. It will have a great rattle when its cold but that just makes my heart start working better when I drive off on a cold engine. There is nothing wrong with running 8.5 advance either. Sure, you leave some hp on the table doing it because of the crappy fuels these days. Remember this too. As the injection pump wears it will retard all by itself. If you have a new set of injectors just installed it will change timing too and as they wear on the springs they change too. Usually that happens around 5000 miles after new. That info is from Russ. I did verfiy that spring pressure after about 5000 miles and its true. So I shimmed all 8 back to 1850 lbs I still have one meter here for anyone that needs it. I'm not hearing from some members that are on my list so anyone that needs it pm me and it will be shipped tomorrow...

 

[RLDSL]

We did some calculating a while back to match to some specs on some euro diesels that had different specs for their fuel that was already ULSD and US specs and we came up with 9.7 deg btdc by the pulse method ( now hows that for a nice round number in other words, 9.5 and a nudge It gains back the power and fuel mileage lost when the new fuel came out.

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

WOw the meter is so damn simple to use! My inital timimg right now at 2k rpm is retarded at 7.9. Mow time to totate to get er to 9.5. Little tip for everyone renting garys meters go buy some zip ties and tie up all the wires like me so you dont chance screwing up the wires.

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

IVe noticed now after timing it im getting a ticking or knocking sound. Didnt have it pre timing though....any ideas?

 

[icanfixall]

Without actually being able to listen to this new to you sound my guess is its what these engines sound like when they are properly timed. I recall you posted that your timing was -7 degrees retarded. Thats going to make a lazy sounding gasser engine sound and now you have an actual diesel ignition sound. Its a much more healthy sound for my likeing. Any chance you have done some work on the injectors??? If so what was it... Did you pop test them to know they are fine and poping at the same pressure. A weak spring will cause the injector to open way early causing a ping or knock sound..

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

I did today fix a leaky return line, thats about it injector wise... I do have a few injectors laying around. Possibly one is bad. I can really only hear it on accel and sometimes as soon as I come to a stop then it goes away. I took a couple cell phone videos, not the greatest. If you cant hear anything Ill break out the ole camcorder and take off in it.

Here it is after up to temp at idle.

You must be registered for see images attach

Here is another, idled up a little bit, can you hear a difference?

You must be registered for see images attach

Here is slowing down on an exit ramp while coming to a stop.

You must be registered for see images attach

Sorry it got dark outside and didn't have anything better at the time to video tape this.
It really sounds like the sound is coming directly from the injector pump though.

Maybe Ill have to rent your meter out again to check it again later. I already told you I was going to ship it back out to the next person, I dont want to have them waiting.

 

[gdhillon]

timing meter? you cant time these with a gun?...........or is that just a gasser thing?

 

[Wyreth]

timing meter? you cant time these with a gun?...........or is that just a gasser thing?

Just a gasser thing. Diesels dunna have spark plugs, so you have to time them either by "pulse method" or with a luminosity probe.

Pulse method refers to the fuel line's expansion. When the injector pump pushes fuel to the injector, the line expands, and there is a fitting that can see that. A ferret adaptor (http://www.toolsource.com/diesel-injection-detector-timing-adapter-p-73805.html) will let you use a standard timing light to pulse time.

A luminosity probe, is a dohicky that screws into the glowplug port on the head, and actually see's the light from the cylinder burning to measure timing.

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

LIttle more info...

Ive realized I seem to have air intrusion somewhere...need return line replaced there dry rotted. I have a slight rough idle, and that knocking/ clatter only seems to happen once up to temp, well after running it hard.... Maybe its my oil breaking.down?

 

[Diesile]

I timed both of my 7.3 factory turbo engines a couple weeks ago with Gary's meter.
What a difference! Both were retarded, one 5 degrees the other 10.
There is now a respectable diesel rattle that accompanies the 100 to 200 degrees lower
egt in any driving situation and an ease with which the trucks go down the road.

Many thanks Gary, I'll rent again when the 'Moose' is ready.

 

[johneich]

will let you use a standard timing light to pulse time.

.

Correct me if I am wrong, but you have to have a timing light which has adjustable advance on it, standard timing lights won't work with a Ferret.

 

[icanfixall]

This meter I have can use the pulse, luminosity or an adjustable timing lite. Its the Kent Moore J33300-A meter. I have used a snapon timing lite before but I feel just using the meter gives you a better 10th of a degree timing. The micrprocessers in the meter break down each degree into 10ths. With the lite you adjust what you want and then shoot the lite on the timing tab tdc mark. Thats the dent in the short cylinerical probe attachment. Getting a good look at that tab is sometimes tuff. So its much easier to just rev to 2000 rpm and look at the meter for the degrees of timing. Then be happy with what you see or shut down the engine and make an adjustment. Ebay has plenty of adjustable timing lites too. I think oldbull uses one with his ferrit meter.

 

[Wyreth]

Correct me if I am wrong, but you have to have a timing light which has adjustable advance on it, standard timing lights won't work with a Ferret.

Well it HELPS to have a light with adjustable advance. However a Ferret will trigger any timing light, after that all you need is a radius tape measure and some math. =P

(I have had my light so long I forget sometimes that they come without adjustment for advance.)