Apparatus for setting timing of internal combustion engines

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Briefly the apparatus of the present invention comprises two elements to be attached temporarily to the rotor and external housing respectively of the electrical ignition distributor of an internal combustion engine.
The scale element of the present invention is adapted for attachment to the exterior of the distributor housing to provide a circumferential scale.
The indicator element is adapted to be attached to the rotor and comprises an indicator having a pointer portion for alignment with the radius line from the rotor axis through the rotor electrical tip.
The pointer portion extends past the distributor housing for a suitable distance and is used in conjunction with the scale element as an indicator of the angular position of the rotor.
To set the proper ignition timing without running the engine, the piston in a selected cylinder is set to top-dead center on its firing cycle.
The distributor housing is then rotated to a point at which the ignition pulse fires.
The indicator and scale elements are then temporarily attached to the distributor rotor and housing respectively to indicate a "zero" position on the scale.
Thereafter the distributor housing is rotated in the "advance spark direction until the scale and indicator show that the manufacturer's tuner's recommended angular spark advance has been reached.
At this position the engine is properly timed.
The distributor housing is then clamped in this position.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide inexpensive apparatus for use in setting the electrical ignition timing of an internal combustion engine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus easily operable by inexperienced engine mechanics to accurately set the electrical ignition timing of an internal combustion engine while the engine is in a non-running state.
It is still further object of the present invention to provide simple apparatus for setting the electrical ignition timing of an internal combustion engine while the engine is in a non-running state