Timing advice

Wayy too much, usually. But, they can be adjusted. the newer ones (say less than 3-4 years) have allen head screws to lock the advacne plate at a certain point, so you can control the centrifical advance amount. The slot isnt marked, so I just use fractions..Say if you measure the centrifical with the timing tape and light (that's total minus initial) and it's 30*. You want to run 38* total, but want 18* initial. So, you need to get the advance plate set to limit the centrifical to 20*. That's 1/3 off, so I would loosen the screw, move the stop to make the hole 1/3 shorter than it is, and recheck total. (dont forget to do both slots on the plate, otherwise it may move on you later...) If you had say 5* initial, and moved the plate limiter screws, then you will only have 25* total timing, until you add the additional initial to it, so dont get confused if you check total right after, and it comes up very low.