What is the Ignition timing harely shovel head?

Answer 1

Isn't there a plug just below the crotch of the cylinders on one side or the other of the crankcase. You pull that plug shine your timing light in the hole and adjust your timing plate and/or point gap till the mark ends up in the middle of the hole. Yes, it can be alittle oil messy.

Answer 2

Shovelhead Ignition Timing

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the Ignition timing harely shovel head?

Answer 4

35* btdc @full advance
5* btdc static
90*Dwell @ 2000 rpm
.020" point gap

That's good for ALL shovels.
70's era spec's were "34~36",,,,which was effectively the same as always,average 35*

There's a timing plug available,,,clear thing which screws into inspection port after solid plug is removed.
They're cheap.
It's virtually impossible to strobe-time with that hole open.

Trying to rig anything over the hole,,like taping clear plastic is usually futile.
A Huge amount of pressure and volume exists as crankcase windage at that timing inspection port.

At only 1,000 Rpm,,,about 1250 Cubic Inches of air trys to come out that hole.
At 1500 rpm,,it's over 1 cubic foot of air.
Per SECOND.

Not to mention the 150~180* oil

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Here's a picture of the plug.
Anybody that sells harley stuff has them

http://www.jpcycles.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=4300301&cs=Vintage&GID=F268E6B9-DCA5-4C7E-BA07-1F3F0BF61536&store=&page=&search=

***Note in the "Review /comments" toward bottom the page the guy says;
".... Hard to see timing mark unless it's inserted almost completely against flywheel. "

Yeah,,Duh.
That's actually how it works,,
'sposed to be screwed in till it bumps crankshaft,,then backed off a bit till just barely out of contact.
Reason is to scrape off the Oil clinging to the crank.

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The Timing Marks CHANGED in late 70's/early 80's.
I dont recall exactly when.
I "THINK" starting in '80??maybe...??

No big deal,whenever.

OLD style was a DOT for TDC,
and a wide LINE for Full Advance.

New Style was exact opposite.
A LINE for TDC,
and a DOT for Full advance.

Easiest way to be Certain,,,
is to check Which Mark appears in the inspection hole when FRONT Piston is at Top Dead Center.

Verify it by backing crank up about 1/8 of a rotation till you see the "OTHER" mark.

Easiest way to turn crank backwards if ya dont have an open primary drive:
Put it in high gear,,,and with bike sitting on the ground,,roll bike backwards.

"Wheel in the air" is a hassle on a Hog,,,and it will motor over too easy.
When tire is on the ground,,in gear,,,it "holds" the crank from rolling past the mark.
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If you have original points-type ignition,,
changing the condenser to larger value almost always makes them start easier and run a bit better.

H-D factory part is approx equivalent of GM Car specs.
GM has "smallest" value condensors .18~.22 mfd range
Ford is about .22~.25
Mopar(Chrysler) is about .25~.30

Any of the plain Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth condensers for '60's~early 70's shows a noticeable improvement in HD Ignition performance

Aftermarket part--A Mallory #400 is .28mfd,,,and an excellent quality condenser.
They're commonly available mail-order,,or Ebay,or local "hot rod shops"

I realize you did not ask about Condensers or upgrades,etc.
Just thought I'd mention it,for what it's worth.

Hope that helps

Answer 5

I don't understand the question. The Magneto sends a signal to each coil or set of coils from the crankshaft. Do you mean engine timing for the spark, like in degrees?

Answer 6

geo46er is correct. On the left side (primary side) there is a plug just below where the two cylinders meet. Remove that plug and beneath it is the flywheel, with the timing marks stamped into it.