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Can't get her started. I believe the timing is off. I'm rotating the distributor slightly and trying different angles. There has to be a more scientific way.

The engine will crank, and one of two things happens - it fires enough to kick off the starter, and everything has to wind down before trying again, or it runs for one or two seconds and dies.

Ideas? I'll grab audio of it so you can hear.

Here is a scientific procedure that you can get pretty close to timed correctly with. I think on your engine the chart setting they ask for in the first photo is 6 degrees BTDC. The test light method is easier because you don't have to look directly at a meter but a VOM could be substituted. Connect the meter the same way they say to connect the light. Instead of bulb going on the meter will read 6v when points open.

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Usually if an engine is kicking back on the starter, it means it has to much advance on the timing. John

Here's the video.

youtube.com/watch?v=xLz91_P_zSU

Listened to the video: too much advance. Rotate the dist, ccw a bit. If the dist has never been out, nearly correct timing will have the vacumn advance pointing straight ahead.

Also, when it does catch you will have to keep the throttle open a bit longer to clear out all the gas that is laying in the manifold from repeated attempts to start. Don't worry about the starter running a few extra seconds. You had it running in the video but it died when you let the throttle close before the engine cleared out.

Thank you! I'll give it a try. We trailered it to my new home in Grand Marais, MN; we'll be moving there Friday.