Ironhead who juts sets timing to the highest/smoothest speed attainable w/out predetonation?

[1982ironhead]

well i have mastered setting timing with a light and statically, so now im thinking just set the run speed at about 2000-2500 rpm and tune the Dyna ignition to the highest and smoothest idle i can get without getting predetonation to get the timing the bike "wants"

i read of guys setting timing as low as 30 degrees advance, well mine is set at the factory mark, stated in the book to be 40* advance, if i tune it like i am thinking and end up with 42-45* advance without predetonation, will it be fine to run like this? the old 900's ran 45* i believe b/c of a smaller bore and the flame front traveled quicker acrossed it before ping occured with no ill effects to the mechanicals, so if i get 45* with my 1000, mechanically it should be fine to run like this? all assuming i get no ping.

i have not done it yet but i do like messin with my bike

[Bob F]

i have not done it yet but i do like messin with my bike

Back in my Chevy hotrod days we'd keep tweaking the timing until it "felt" like the most power. As long as you don't have detonation "go for it."

[GA_Ironhead]

Same testimonial as Bob F.

[1982ironhead]

any specific RPM you guys tune at in particular? or just as long as your at full advance already?

[ericfreeman]

I static time both of my Ironheads, one electronic and one with points, at the factory setting and then back them off to eliminate pinging. So far, with both bikes I've had to retard the timing a bit to get rid of that high load detonation, such as when hitting the throttle hard to pass slow traffic. Once I'm assured there will be no detonation, I'm happy. I've never bothered to check the timing with a light to see just what the exact timing is since the engine's performance tells me everything I need to know.

Eric

[1982ironhead]

I static time both of my Ironheads, one electronic and one with points, at the factory setting and then back them off to eliminate pinging.

both bikes running 10:1 pistons as well? i only have 9:1

[ericfreeman]

Originally Posted by 1982ironhead

both bikes running 10:1 pistons as well? i only have 9:1

My '78 has the 10:1 pistons while the '77 has stock 9:1's. I've had to back off the '77 a bit so I can pass in the mountains without worrying about detonation. Didn't take much and now it runs like gangbusters!

Eric

[1982ironhead]

what are you jetted at? im running a 69 main and .265 int, i like riding through lake lure out bat cave, up #9 and up to Mt Mitchell and back down hwy 80 towards marion good long curvey roads of WNC. what altitude does mt mitchell get to?

[racerwill]

that's how we've been setting the timing on the hot rods for years...... once you start changing pistons, cams, compression, head flow, and ignition the factory timing no longer applies...... we know about where to start and then just "season to taste" from there...... when I finally come up with the "best" spot, I write it down on the intake so we can just go right back to it.

Ww

[ericfreeman]

My jetting will be meaningless since I'm running vintage Mikuni-Solex 2 barrel sidedraft carbs on both of my Ironheads. Fell in love with these carbs back in the '70's when I fitted a new one to my '77 XLCH. Carb/manifolds were marketed by Jerry Branch in Long Beach, CA and I bought one directly from him at the time. Superb performing carbs but most parts are hard to find these days. I've managed to acquire 4 of the carbs and manifolds and rebuilt them all. Nothing like a few spares for the future!

Eric