Paul,

What is the best way to find 22 deg. BTDC on an engine tear down and reassembly?  That is to say when I reassemble my engine and start to test the magneto system, I will need to be as close as possible to 22 deg. BTDC for the initial setup.  Once I get close I can fine tune with a timing light (I hope).
My thoughts are to follow your suggestion and chuck the hub to the pulley.  The pick up coils will be mounted externally to the hub and will able to rotate so as to fine tune the timing, but I want to start off as close as possible to the correct timing if possible. Thanks.

Franklin

It is rather tricky to find top dead center.
With the engine apart use the Lynn Hannover method.

If the engine is running well or you know the apex
seals are in good shape make a hose barb out of a spark
plug. Get a rough idea by sticking a screw driver
in the lower spark plug hole. It will move in and
out as the engine is turned over bay hand. When it
is out as far as it will go you are near TDC.

Fill a chamber in the front rotor with oil when it is
near TDC using a 24 inch transparent flex tube connected to the
spark plug hose barb. Gently rock the engine back and fourth
and watch the oil level in the tube. When the oil
is at its highest point that is TDC for rotor one.


Paul Lamar