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You can as @BILT4ME aptly points out above. IF it was running well (correctly timed) before you pulled it and IF you get it back exactly as it was before (both rotor and distributor body position) it 'should' return to normal when you stab it. But often folks get it off a tooth and rotate the distributor body some...further advancing or retarding the timing and the engine won't start or runs poorly until adjusted.
That is why I advocate just starting at TDC (compression stroke) and line up the witness marks on the dizzy. You have visual reference points that way. Takes about two minutes longer to do it using that method and greatly increases the chances it will fire up first time.
Pros and experienced DIYers can pluck it, re-stab it and be good to go. Those not doing this very often, not so much.
Okay, this is definitely the issue. I had to pull and align twice before I got it in and centered on the adjusting bolt. Could barely keep it running, but it started. I checked the timing and it was about -15 degrees. I clocked the distributor all the way clockwise and got it to about -2 degrees. That is put into diagnostic mode with a jumper. So I need to pull it again and make sure the rotor aligns where to correct? I attached photos of how it looked inserted.
Not seeing any photos...but we really don't need them.
(you can pull the #1 spark plug, drop a wooden dowel down in that cylinder and rotate the crank until you see it coming up). Then you know you are on the compression stroke.
They are showing up to me at the end of page 1
This is an incorrect statement.
Dropping a dowel into the cylinder will NOT tell you if a cylinder is on the compression stroke. It will ONLY tell you if you are at TDC on that cylinder, which is exactly what the mark on the HB is doing.
You MUST FEEL the compression coming from the cylinder or you pull the valve cover and confirm that both valves are CLOSED and the piston is on the UP stroke.
I use a paper towel stuffed into the spark plug hole with the spark plug OUT so it will puff the towel out.
Might it not be easier to pull the valve cover, set to TDC and install the dizzy that way?