Effects of ignition timing on power characteristics.....
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:28 pm
Thought this may be of interest to some. It is a graph which shows a TS1 that i was working on, and was trying to find the best ign timing setting on an M-Tech box, to give the correct curve that we wanted. This graphs shows 3 runs on the same engine/cylinder, with no other changes than the setting on the M-Tech box. The scooter was ticking over at 17 degrees BTDC and would retard back closer to 12 degrees depending which setting was used. Obviously on the green (least) setting it would only have come back to say 16/15 degrees at peak RPM, a bit further on the middle setting and right back to 12 on the red (most/fastest) setting.
First curve (green) shows the M-Tech on the lowest setting (setting 1: least retard effect)
Second curve (blue) shows the M-Tech on the middle setting (setting 8: medium retard effect)
Third curve (red) shows the M-Tech on the highest setting (setting F: most/fastest retard effect)

It can be seen in this particular instance that the least amount of retard showed highest peak power, but then the curve drops off sharply and quickly....compared to the last curve where the peak power is lowest, but the scooter revs on much more.
I ended up using setting '4' on this scooter, which meant we were left with a good compromise between peak power and over-rev. Once the jetting was then cleaned up it provided a lovely curve, with nice power, good rev-on, and didn't run too hot.
First curve (green) shows the M-Tech on the lowest setting (setting 1: least retard effect)
Second curve (blue) shows the M-Tech on the middle setting (setting 8: medium retard effect)
Third curve (red) shows the M-Tech on the highest setting (setting F: most/fastest retard effect)

It can be seen in this particular instance that the least amount of retard showed highest peak power, but then the curve drops off sharply and quickly....compared to the last curve where the peak power is lowest, but the scooter revs on much more.
I ended up using setting '4' on this scooter, which meant we were left with a good compromise between peak power and over-rev. Once the jetting was then cleaned up it provided a lovely curve, with nice power, good rev-on, and didn't run too hot.