How do I adjust my MSD vacuum advance?

How do I adjust my MSD vacuum advance?

You can easily adjust the vacuum advance of the Street Fire Distributor. Insert a 3/32″ Allen wrench in the canister inlet and turn the adjustment screw clockwise until it is all the way in (Figure 2). Counter clockwise reduces the advance, clockwise increases.

How much vacuum advance should I have?

Ideally, the timing now should be somewhere around 34 to 36 degrees to total advance. With 34 degrees of total mechanical advance and 14 degrees initial timing, you have 20 degrees of mechanical advance—14 + 20 = 34.

Does vacuum need advance?

Under a light load and part throttle conditions, timing can be advanced. This improves throttle response and makes the engine more efficient. It also helps the engine run cooler. The vacuum advance provides this benefit BEFORE the Mechanical Advance provides Total Timing.

How do I know if my vacuum advance is bad?

Back to your original question…”What are some signs that my vacuum advance is bad?” You will have poor gas mileage and poor throttle response. As DrMaserati has explained, vaccum advance disappears at high RPM’s… this is where the mechanical weights come into play. Ideally you want around 35 degrees total timing.

What’s better vacuum advance or mechanical?

Vacuum advance offers greater better fuel economy and engine performance due to raised timing during periods of low speed such as gear shifting or stopping; it extends the combustion mixture burn cycle. Mechanical advance timing offers better engine performance in high speed applications such as race car driving.

What happens when timing is too advanced?

Advancing the timing means the plug fires earlier in the compression stroke (farther from TDC). Advance is required because the air/fuel mixture does not burn instantly. It takes time for the flame to ignite the all the mixture. However, if the timing is advanced too far, it will cause an Engine Knock.