Topic: Timing ARD Magneto

[736cc]

 Could somebody tell me (in very basic terms) how to simply retard the timing on an ARD magneto a few degrees? I'm about to start this bike for the 1st time, previous owner told me to retard the timing (it was advanced for racing) its set around 38 deg BTDC it should be about 32 BTDC
 

[Jim F]

Thats got to be one of the coolest dudes on the block
very nice build

as for timing an ARD I could never get mine to work
so I just stuffed a bunch of Dyna ignition in mine and it works great
and I have the look too

[sohc boy]

gday,736 , that sure is a cool bike allright , ran an ard for on the street an strip for a while , loosen mag pulley ( mine was just taper not keyed ) rotate back n forth , to timing what you want ,i made a ring to fit in the housing at crank snout ,pressed on , marked in degrees , to use timing light , yea 38 deg 's got real kick to it allright , i ran around 28 on street , didn't go as good ,but saved my right knee a lota greef   

[Retro Rocket]

Nice bike Andy, is that running old school CR31's, the ones with ticklers.?

[754]

 I figured you had to have got that Ontario haul..lol

 We were trying to deal on the everything but the bike pile... oh well..

[johno]

nice bike mate, a real picaso, makes the painting look average.  you got the good oil, hope you get the spark sorted
cheers Johno

[736cc]

nice bike mate, a real picaso, makes the painting look average

Ouch, that's my lithograph on the wall! LOL
Here's the same litho reflecting on the black tank.

[736cc]

Cover is off a spare ARD to practice on. Now what? Bike is timed at 38 degrees advance, was told to back it down to 32.
 Do I remove the top nut holding the large pulley and rotate it 6 degrees clockwise to retard timing, leaving the lower small pulley as-is?
 Of course, both pulleys are toothed, so incremental adjusting completely depends on each tooth they rotate, top pulley has 30 teeth (1 tooth equals 12 degrees?). I don't know if either of my ARD's top pulleys are keyed, I'm not taking either of them apart until I know exactly how to put them back together again 
  I haven't removed the ARD cover or pulley on the motorcycle i need to adjust. How do I properly remove the belt first w/o opening a can-o-worms (and re-install)?

[754]

 looks like a screw head at 5 oclock by the big pulley, is there another at 11 oclock? loosening the  mag body should allow a bit of rotation.

[sohc boy]

yea take off top pulley an rotate clockwise need to take cap off an hold the rotor or it will move ,an loose your referance ,,need a puller or you may damage pulley , i made one , but need a degree wheel on there somewher or your jus guessing , you can slot it in the housing , but its getting bit complicated

[sohc boy]

 mark on mag pulley is when points open ,mark crank,what deg you want ,you get the idea , i wouldv'e used the right angle drive, mallory ,( less hassle)  you had instead of the ARD ..........but thats just me 

[736cc]

Maybe I will just start it as-is. That's alot of messing around w/ the crown jewels.

Another issue i'm contending with is the fact the CR31 carbs use ticklers; and that means deliberately dribbling VP racing fuel onto the magneto cap and wires. Wouldn't it be funny to have this thing go up in flames during its first start in years.

Then again, maybe it won't be so funny....

[754]

 Dont tickle the one by the mag, it will still start..

[fang]

Congrats on getting the machine.  I had been watching it as it passed through eBay a few times.  It is absolutely beautiful!
-Fang

[turboguzzi]

well, it looks so much just like the magneto drive in my matchelss G80S..... used to undo the nut by a turn or two and break the taper on the engine shaft to play with timing rather than the magneto one.