1962 Johnson RDS-24 Timing Question

[reavesga]

Trying to get the timing setup on a 1962 Johnson 40hp. I found the timing marks on the flywheel and the marks on the plate. How do I know which mark goes with the upper cylinder and which mark goes with the lower cylinder? Found one website that said there was a big mark and little mark but mine look identical. I set everything up and tried to start her. At low throttle all I got was a hard cough out of the exhaust. I advanced the mag plate as far as it could go without opening the throttle plate. The motor acted like it wanted to start but would not keep running for more than few seconds. Any suggestions? I am starting to wonder if I got the upper and lower plug wires swapped.

 

[lindy46]

Re: 1962 Johnson RDS-24 Timing Question

The two vertical marks on the flywheel are for setting the points with a special tool or with an ohmmeter. They do not set timing. The timing is in fact only set by the flywheel key. If that is in good condition and the flywheel is torqued down properly with the key in the notch in the flywheel, timing is OK. There is another setting called a link and synch, which synchronises the armature plate to the carburetor. That is set by adjusting the cam which is mounted on the underside of the armature plate. The cam roller rides on the cam and there is a mark on the cam. On that particular motor, I believe there is a "pointer" to the left of the roller. Adjust the cam so the carb butterfly just starts to open when the pointer lines up with the mark on the cam.

There should be a band around the plug wire which goes to the top cylinder. The top cylinder is fired by the most forward mounted coil, if the band is missing.

 

[reavesga]

Re: 1962 Johnson RDS-24 Timing Question

Forward coil fire upper cylinder is what i needed to know. Thanks.