Please help trying to check timing

[The lawn ranger]

When timing in a 87 Mercury 150 XR2 is the number one plug supposed to be in or out I've seen both ways I appreciate it

 

[Chris1956]

I remove spark plugs 2-6, so the motor will not start, as I need to set idle pickup timing and full throttle timing. I do not see any advantage to removing spark plug #1, as you still need a source of ground to make the timing light pick up the spark.

 

[The lawn ranger]

I'm trying to set the timing for a 87 Mercury 150 XR2 but it's flashing halfway around from where top dead center is at ,not enough adjustment to get it back around what should I do?

 

[The lawn ranger]

Thank you

 

[The lawn ranger]

I'm trying to set the timing for a 87 Mercury 150 XR2 but it's flashing halfway around from where top dead center is at ,not enough adjustment to get it back around what should I do?

Is this what they call double flashing?

 

[brodmann]

Are you sure you're testing the correct plug wire? The #1 cylinder shoule be the very to one, a little higher than the one beside it. I'd get ahold of a shop manual and make sure that the wiring to the coils is correct.

 

[The lawn ranger]

Thank you for trying to help responding to me, I figured it out, the new trigger I put on there is not good failed all three DvA tests, and thank you again I appreciate your response

 

[The lawn ranger]

Thank you for trying to help responding to me, I figured it out, the new trigger I put on there is not good failed all three DvA tests, and thank you again I appreciate your response

Let me rephrase that I think I've got it figured out New trigger be here tomorrow we'll find out

 

[Dukedog]

remove all and leave all tha plugs on their wires then ground tha plugs to tha block.. even number one.. there is a "chance" (not written in stone but) of wipin' out a switch box with ungrounded coils when crankin'.. if it turns over to fast and starter kicks out to early put one at a time back in.. this will give ya max starting rpm for your timin'...

 

[The lawn ranger]

Ok thank you