Hi all, recently bought an 1960s Evinrude Big Twin, replaced condensers & coils, got  very solid sparks but I presume the timing is not 100%, pull start system, tried bout 5 times but got nothing but sore arm, need to know how to set timing  since there are not marks on flywell,  or access to a timing fixture would be better.

Moved it for you mate.

 

Save yourself some money this motor fires at TDC its the old Amplifier points system. Although you do not have any timing marks on the fly wheel.Remove the fly wheel and place the nut back onto the shaft to turn the motor over in a clock wise direction .When piston no.1 is at TDC lobe on the crankshaft should then line up with the points at this position the point Gap should be between 0.010 & 0.012 loosen the adjustment screw on the points to adjust to the specs . you can use a dial gauge screwed into the the no 1 plug to determine your TDC if you not too experienced in determining TDC . You can double check with a 12v globe connected to the positive to the positive on the Amplifier & the negative to the negative on the points if the light goes out and piston no 1 at TDC ... You spot on    

As these old Amplifier ignition systems are out dated ,Amplifiers are obsolete and if you are able to get one it will cost you an arm & leg and very few people are able to work on these old systems , I converted my 1971 100hp to run on a car HT coil by connecting a ballast resistor in series and using a 0.20 to 0.24 nf or uf condenser al for under 70dlrs .as apposed to over 400dlr for a Amplifier if any one needs any help on how to do this please ask i will put up a post .

Her is a thought..
Chevy (most engine manufactures around the world) started to produce HEI high energy ign systems in the early 70s to over come the higher resistance in the combustion camber due t the introduction of EGR and leaner mixes
 The original 4 terminal HEI modules tended to be unreliable but by the early 70s the stock chevy become bullet proof.
 So much so made Chrysler guys converted their dizzies to the Chevy HEI module....along with high performance high rpm motor bikes
Several early chevy models coils not drop the bigger HEI / dizzy and coil module into the engine because of the firewall too close... So they and I have modded an old points dizzy .. remove the pionts and dropped in the HEI module and magnetic pick up..
 I even converted a 2 cylinder vintage english dizzy to the HEI and magnetic pick up  (knock 6 of the magnetic pick ups off)

 Doing so will eliminate the amplifier set up.. simply run a high voltage 'sports' coil or adapt the chevy HEI coil and 8mm HT leads.. if you dont run the min 8mm the voltage WILL blow holes in the side of the HT leads
 It must be the 4 pin Chevy HEI module. the others with different number pins will not work properly without engine management systems