Help with timing marks please

[malcolm]

I've been looking at the timing on my series 2 2+2, and can't understand the timing marks.
On the photos below, you can see that the white marks are on a scale that reads "before", then counts up 2, 3, 4, 5, and then goes back to 4 again! Then it reads "after"
The white lines are marked against "5"




I know that the static timing for USA cars was 5 btdc static - is this what this is? But why does it then go back to "4"? BTW, my car is definitely not a USA import, and has the original UK engine.

When I use my timing light, I see the 2 white marks - if they represent 5 btdc, should I advance another 5 degrees to get to 10 btdc?

There is another single white mark on the damper, which I thought must be a TDC mark, but it's a long way from these 2 white marks, and I can't see it on my strobe even though I've got an advance strobe so can dial in the 10 btdc I believe the car is at. In fact, I can't bring the single mark into view no matter how far I turn the advance dial in either direction

I'm probably being thick as usual, but .......HELP!

[mgcjag]

Hi Malcom...have a closer look....i think your white mark is on the 0 then in 2 deg increments 4,8,12 before and 4 after........so what you think is a 3 is an 8 and what you think is 2 has a 1 stamped in front..so 12..
If i were you i would actually pull the spark plugs, turn over the engine by hand and find your exact tdc and line it up with the pointer.. Steve
PS....10deg BTDC is your static timing

[malcolm]

As my daughter would say Steve - OMG! Think you're right! I've blown the pics up as far as I can, and the "2" is a 12! So, the white stripes being on 0 mean that they are marking TDC right?

[mgcjag]

Yes the white mark is in 0 deg....TDC but you really need to check that with your front (No6 piston) at its true tdc then your white mark 0 lines up with the pionter that you adjust to match.......then you use your strobe against the pointer........might be worth fitting a new pointer to the front cover so you dont have to get under tbe car to use the strobe

[malcolm]

Thanks a lot for that Steve, problem solved! I will check as you said, but when I use the strobe light, don't I connect to No. 1 spark lead, the rearmost cylinder??

[christopher storey]

You can use either the front or the rear plug to connect your light to. They fire
at the same point on alternate revolutions. It is much more convenient to use the front plug

[malcolm]

Thanks Christopher - that makes life easier!