M50 Ignition Timing ?

The copy of the "Illustrated Instruction Manual" that I have says that it is Publication P106/P for 1959-1967 says the following

 FOR THE Model 50

Ignition timing   BTDC FULLY ADVANCED  38 degrees

or 11/32"(.469") or 11.88mm

Hope this helps

Mike  

Hi Mike

This is going to get confusing for you, In my M50 maintenance manual ( Publication P101). Priced at 3s 6p ! It says.......Fully advanced 13/32". (10.23mm) 

My M50 is a 1960 slimline, but I don't imagine any difference for a 1959.

Any information you require  about these fantastic Nortons, give Mike P a ring, he is very helpful, and will, I am sure advise you correctly.

Regards John O

If it is manual advance, I'd have no hesitation in setting it to the further advanced setting. You can always pull it back a bit. If auto I'd probably do the same. And if it pinks on the ordinary stuff, use super. We'll all want to use it anyway when E10 arrives. F. Neill gives 15/32 = 11.88mm.

I always use the 38° but I have mostly had something superior to the 18D1, for many years I used a K1F manual mag off a Velocette and when that finally expired I went over to a Boyer-Branson set-up which is even better.

With the 18D1 I found that set  at 38° fully advanced it would kick back quite fiercely sometimes and pink on opening the throttle even with new springs and tick-over was erratic so I used to set it at 36° where it was better. I would use premium fuel.

With the manual mag it would tick-over like a mill engine.

I believe that there is an electronic  conversion to the 18D1 aimed at BSAs with a better advance curve and reliable retardation.l if originality of appearance is important to you.

Hi Mike

All dimensions/ angles are fully advanced. Set it to one of the dimensions given, and if it pinks or kicks back,retard a bit ! M 50 are very forgiving anyway.......Good look, mine starts (nearly always unless I have an audience) first kick, and ticks over like a traction engine, I would guess well under 500rpm compared to my Venom (800 ish)

Regards John O