Hmm...not sure about that since my only experience with a flattie Stude
185 is getting the one in my old 55 Sedan eunning a couple years ago.
I'm accustomed to the Chebby engines...and for them I remember to move
the advance toward the passenger side (advancing on the girl in the
seat) or toward the driver side to retard (for obvious reasons!).

Since Studes run backwards...(at least the distributor turns
bass-ackwards) I'd have to assume it's the other directions
entirely...but I could be wrong!

Best bet is to get out the old timing light and check it properly. I
like running about 2-4 more degrees initial advance than the books call
for. That's mostly because the old mechanical advances seldom pull in
all the reminder of the advance they need to run under load...but also
because I LIKE that bop-bop-bop-bop sound!!

While try to get the Speedster to start, I apparently pumped the pedal
once too often and flooded it. When it did not start, like a idiot I
pumped some more. Since it would sputter a bit, perhaps some gas down
the carb would do it, pour gas down, sputter, repeat, BANG ! The bacfire
blew the entire end cap and guts out of a new stainless steel muffler.