[CDO] Running like a hit and miss

[Roger Garnett]

OK, hit the wrong key - trying again:
My friend Randy, who has an earlier '03 came over and we had a very
productive evening.

I cleaned the grease out from the ignition cam, cleaned the flywheel, and
we measured the ignition and valve timing.

Cleaning the flywheel yeilded obvious marks - a single hole & scribe line
for TDC, and 4 holes across a scrabe for BDC, plus a couple more lines
that  turned out to be valve timing marks. My car does have adjustable
valve timing, as well as very steep intake & exhaust lobes. The intake
rocker is ground out to provide clearance for the tall cam lobe.

The timing numbers are interesting when compared to what's in the CDO
manual (Thanks Gary)

Ignition:
Manual - "the spark should fire about one to two inches after TCD, and
continue about 13 inches"
My spark currently occurs right at TDC, and runs for about 5". This is
obviously modifiable by bending the contact, but is staying as is for now.

Valves: The manual lists a couple, mine are an interesting mix:

Factory                      "George Green Restoration"                 My
car - also a George Green
Exhaust Closes 2" After TDC

On Tue, Jul 14, 2015 at 11:58 PM, Roger Garnett <rwgarnett at gmail.com> wrote:

> My friend Randy, who has an earlier '03 came over and we had a very
> productive evening.
>
> I cleaned the grease out from the ignition cam, cleaned the flywheel, and
> we measured the ignition and valve timing.
>
> Cleaning the flywheel yeilded obvious marks - a single hole & scribe line
> for TDC, and 4 holes across a scrabe for BDC, plus a couple more lines
> that  turned out to be valve timing marks. My car does have adjustable
> valve timing, as well as very steep intake & exhaust lobes. The intake
> rocker is ground out to provide clearance for the tall cam lobe.
>
> The timing numbers are interesting when compared to what's in the CDO
> manual (Thanks Gary)
>
> Ignition:
> Manual - "the spark should fire about one to two inches after TCD, and
> continue about 13 inches"
> My spark currently occurs right at TDC, and runs for about 5". This is
> obviously modifiable by bending the contact, but is staying as is for now.
>
> Valves: The manual lists a couple, mine are an interesting mix:
>
> Factory
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 14, 2015 at 1:39 PM, Roger Garnett <rwgarnett at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> > Ian K suggests: First clean up the ignition  cam lobe and spring with a
>> piece of cloth
>>
>> I do need to go over this again - had to adjust the spring to get contact
>> to begin with. How long should the contact duration be?
>>
>> > Second , take out the spark plug , reconnect the lead and place the
>> plug on top of the engine ensuring an earth contact .Turn the engine over
>> to see what sort of spark you have and if it is regular.
>>
>> I've done that, have a decent spark.  (At hand crank RPMs anyhow!)  Spark
>> Plug is a bit sooty at this point.
>>
>> > Recheck the timing
>>
>> I should go through the valve timing process - altho it was recently
>> running reasonably!
>>
>> > After that i would have another look at the carb for blockage.
>>
>> The fuel path is currently all clear, and free-flowing. Great flow if I
>> pull the line off the carb, or the sediment cap.
>>
>> > Also check the battery , it could be nearly flat .
>>
>> Battery is freshly charged.
>>
>> > Johnny sez: My car has the later 1904 style carb. It would start and
>> run, but had cut out / hesitation difficulty at higher speeds.  I blocked
>> off about 1/4 of the air intake to give more velocity thru the carb.
>>
>> The early carb is very different, not sure what would happen.  I've had
>> the tube in place running to the "air filter" on the side of the body. Left
>> it off last night, no change.
>>
>> > Gary H sez: have a tumbling machine mounted on the wall of my shop.  I
>> strap a tank to it with about a quart of abrasive tumbling rock and a few
>> quarts of soapy water.  Let it run for one or two days
>>
>> Gary - I may take you up on a tank tumble over the winter!
>>
>> Roger Garnett
>> 1903 CDO #15713
>> rwgarnett at gmail.com
>> 607 227-5648
>> Lansing, NY
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Roger Garnett
> rwgarnett at gmail.com
>



-- 
Roger Garnett
rwgarnett at gmail.com