For what it's worth, Brian L explained in a FB Group how he sets them. It's a dance by trying to get both points open the same amount (as measured on each cylinder at TDC) and to have them hit at the same time, which for this engine should be .023". I'm positive I had this correct the last time...

I'm still messing with this thing... It very well could need new coils, but I want to make sure it's firing when it should. Manual says to find TDC, rotate counterclockwise to specs listed on chart. My specs are .023" +/- .005. Am I supposed to rotate it only .023 (green line) or to .023 (blue ...

Aside from finding a used one, I like to use WD40 Silicone spray to get the parts moving a little more freely on the recoil ... Maybe that will give it a better chance at grabbing. If the cup is super worn, could you file or grind it so the pawls grab material, rather than slides off when the pawls ...

I'm listing my '72 Deere 400. Most of my trials and tribulations have been chronicalled here. It started up today and I did a couple of laps around the yard but hadn't been run since January. It has the 340cc CCW with Walbro carb. Off the top of my head, I've changed or replaced: Wear bars Steering ...

The answer is a resounding yes. I've been doing the timing wrong and now it all makes sense. I'm able to hit my point gaps and time the engine to .023 from tdc. Once I buttoned up a bit and pulled the recoil handle the spark I had from the plugs was the best I've ever seen from this sled, so I was h...

After I messed with the timing last year the engine started ok but wasn't great. I spuddered around the yard a bit but it seemed I lost a cylinder. Check for spark and one was dead, so this year I decided once again to get mess with it last minute and ordered a new breaker point. It turns out that t...

Good info to know as these parts become more difficult to find!

I've been fiddling off and on with this. I've got the points adjusted to open at the proper depths, but I can't rotate the stator "enough". When I turn counterclockwise as the manual states, the corresponding points close, like you said Steven... Not open, like the manual states. Am I mixi...

Snow envy

That is one shiny sled!

It's a ccw 340 from a '72 400. It's the manual with 310 PDF pages... Service manual SM 2100 from '72 Deere's serial numbers 2551+ Edit: found it again. Page 153 of the PDF... Section 40, 10-21. Looks like I set the timing but NOT the breaker points. Yes, appears breakers need to open to a max spec o...

From the manual, it seems the main concern when setting the timing is where the points start to open. However, does it matter how wide they open when fully open? My red point second cylinder opens .011 inches (.279 mm). My white point first cylinder opens .018 in (.457 mm). Obviously, that's a prett...

I always hit the fly wheel with a soft rubber mallet. Not hard blows bc you don't want to damage the crank or bend the flywheel. Go in a circular or triangular pattern.

This isn't a "correct" way to remove the sheave, but I used an old leather belt wrapped around and folded over top of itself... Like a universal size oil filter wrench. To hold it while I cranked on the bolt, I pinched it with two sticks of whatever I could find and rolled it around a coup...