360 timing issue, retards before advancing?

dusterglenn said

I actually work in a parts store. Getting the Mr G springs shouldn't be a problem.

I'm trying to wrap my head around what's happening in the distributor when I rev it up. As the RPMs come up the weights want to spin outward causing the rotor to advance. The springs keep this from happening instantly/all the time. How can any combo of springs cause the weights to retract/retard before expanding/advancing? What am I missing?

Click to expand...

You are missing the wear in the bushings, or even in the advance mechanism shaft. Read the shop manual. There's a way to check it. The shaft "moves" sideways which changes the relationship of the reluctor / pickup (or points in the old days) and changes timing.

I used to have ONE HELL of a time with the old single point distributors.

AND

Be sure to pull the dist out and have a look at the intermediate shaft.