[M_R_Q]

I didnt check it with a timing light (I can never make sense of them the few times Ive played with one) but I did try adjusting the timing. Usually I can get it pretty close just by feel. Not perfect, but certainly usable. I also cant get it to stay running well enough or long enough to bother with the timing light. When I do adjust the timing it doesnt seem to make any difference in the way it runs.

The problem originally popped up while still being in use, so sitting wont be a big factor. Ran it on fresh gas and replaced the carb with a known good one off the 250 with no change, so I put the old one back on. It could be a vacuum leak, I suppose, but I dont have a gauge to do that test. I doubt its vacuum though, based purely on my gut

Distributor cap has been changed. The whole distributor has been swapped, and the old one works perfectly fine.

Its my understanding that the 292/250 had a nylon/fiber timing gear that is fairly well known for losing teeth? At least that is what Ive read. Perhaps thats just on the 250?

The problem happened while driving it, and not all of a sudden, so I doubt the distributor is off a tooth. Ive also pulled it and set it back in a few times with no change.

When I get around to it, I may buy some new plugs for it. I just wasnt sure if a bad plug could cause backfiring/coughing. I can see it running rough from that, though. I guess Ill just have to try it and see.