Mechanical CAT, smoke at idle

That is such a wrong statement!

 

I think that cone is a timing advance.

 

It actually goes into the pump. Not the front cover. You use a 3/8 (9/16 wrench) and you pin the flywheel at top dead center. Pin the pump, pin the flywheel. Thats static. No special tools needed.

 

Unless you have access to a meter, its trial and error brother. One thing i can tell you is, make sure you back the engine up and roll it back forward once you pin the pump and loosen the advance to make sure the gearlash (slop) is out of the timing gears.

 

You can pin it all ya want. If the fly weight spring tension are not adjusted right on the cone it will be off. Either meter it or play with the adjusting nut on the front until you have it dialed in.

 

@superhauler. Is correct. Timing advance problems can be a pain unless you KNOW if they are in adjustment or working right. Anything from the quad rings seals or spool can be bad. On those hydraulic advances, sometimes blowin orings will leak oil to the point where they just wont advance or return.

Putting meter on it is the only accurate way to know for sure.

 

On the type your describing you gotta hold the spool in with a screwdriver while tightening advance bolts