[wilkin250r]

Yes it can. However, you can drive a certain way to limit your risk and damage, but it's still an ever-present risk.

Background engine theory: Without getting too technical, your throttle is controlling the density of air getting into the engine. It can be thought of and explained as the AMOUNT of air getting into your engine. At idle and low throttle positions, less air means less fuel, and your carb controls all of this.

Really dense air/fuel mixture will burn fast, air that is less dense with less fuel burns slower. So when you're at idle and low throttle positions with very little air and fuel, you need lots of advance to give it enough time to burn, that's why you have the vacuum advance. You're firing the spark earlier to give it enough time to start the combustion process and build pressure.

However, if you start it TOO early, you run the risk of detonation, and it will destroy your motor rather quickly.