Hi Jack,Here it comes at last. I also include this on the web site, and on ATIS list. Find it enclosed as a Word 6.0 file here in this e-mail. I was visiting the local dealer, but no luck. They were too young, and I was supposed to come back the day after.
At work I was not sure I would reach them before closing time, so I called the company that import Massey Ferguson to Norway. Their operator woman said, I am very sorry, but we have no service people in here today, they are all at a training course, because today is the world launching day of a brand new MF serie, the MF 2000 serie, and a new 8200 and a new 6200 serie, and there are some new things on the 4200 serie too. But wait a little she said, I will give you a phone number you can call, I think he might be able to help you. Ok, I had to try him, and he was at the training course, which I am happy for. The phone rang, and a voice said hello, and I told him my problem. I am sorry, I have no idea how to adjust the timing on those engines. But wait a little, I shall ask.
I heard there was a lot of voices in the background, so I assumed I had just interupted the big training course..... .... Then I hear his voice, shouting out among all the people, "Anyone here who can help a man who wants to know how to adjust the timing on a "Gråtass" as we call them in Norway (Grå in Gråtass means grey)"
Soon I got a new voice in the phone, and he explained how to adjust the timing. After work I ran over to the local dealer and asked who the man I had called was, and they told me he was the top sales manager for Massey Ferguson in Norway. Wasn't this the BEST service Yves could get ????? ??
So long from, Bill
Copy of file:
How to adjust ignition timing on Ferguson TE A - 20
This procedure also seems to work for FE / MF 35 with Standard petrol / gas engine (spark plug engines) Hope my English is understandable. I have written this in detail so everyone, even those who have been working very little on engines can understand and do this. The timing marks can’t be seen on those engines. 20 - 30 mm (around an inch, or slightly more) below the starter motor there is a small hole. May be hard to find because of dirt in hole.
Put a screwdriver into the hole, and have some turn the engine very slowly. Sooner or later the screwdriver will fall deeper into the hole as there is a hole in the flywheel too.
This is the Timing Mark. Remove the distributor cap. Note where the rotor is pointing, it shall point at the post on the dist. cap where the wire to the first cylinder is. If ok then remove rotor and the cover over the breaker points. If not ok, means the rotor is pointing in the opposite direction, you have to pull out the screwdriver and turn the engine one more turn and find the hole in the flyweel again. Hook up a test lamp to the ground side of the coil, and the ground. Loosen the distributor, turn on the ignition, and turn the distributor housing back and forth so that the breaker points closes and opens. At the point where the breaker points just opens the light in the test lamp will come on. It is easy to see with the cap off Lock the distributor with the screw, put back the little cover, rotor, and distributor cap. Timing adjustment is now completed, and you can start your engine.
I am sure this procedure will raise some questions. One of them may be, why can’t I use a stroboscope lamp like the one used to adjust timing on cars? First of all you can’t see the hole in the flywheel, and even if you were wise and marked the crankshaft pulley when you had the engine in the right position it would still be impossible. You see, the centrifugal advance starts to advance timing at so low engine speeds that it is already working at idle. It is not possible to make the engine run so slow that the centrifugal advance don’t work. This means you will adjust the engine with way to late static timing if you are using a stroboscope lamp.
The rotor is turning counterclockwise (anti-clockwise as some like). At last, remember that the spark occurs when the breaker points opens. Not when they closes. When they closes the coil is charging. When they open the coil decharge itself over the spark plugs. Hope this helps, if any question, please contact bill@online.no
Bill Brox
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