Maserati 3500 GTi, Sebring, Mistral and others engine

hello everyone, I have rebuilt me 3500GT engine and its distributor, and I am struggling with the arrangement of the mechanical advance weights. It appears that the neutral position of the weights, which should be the static ignition timing position, is not the fully retracted position of the weights. There is a significant range of motion in the weights (most of their travel, in fact) while the compression springs are fully decompressed (released). This means there is not a spring which brings the advance weights to their fully retracted position, and therefore the static/idle timing position of the advance weights is a kind of middle position in their travel, where the weights are pushed back by the compression springs, touching the compression springs, but with the compression springs fully extended, but this is not the fully retracted position of the weights. I guess this means that they rely on centrifugal motion from the rotation of the starter motor and the friction/spring drag of the points to hold the mechanical advance mechanism in the idle/static timing position. Can this be correct? If this is the case, then how does one ensure the these weights are in the idle/static timing position, before setting the initial static timing of the distributor after an engine rebuild? I think I must be missing something here. Any insight and help is appreciated.

 

and while I am posting questions, is synthetic (silicone) grease the correct type of lubricant to use on the advance weight pivots and cam slots, and between the inner and outer shaft of the distributor? It appears that these pieces have old crusty grease on them when the come apart, so I am assuming that silicone grease during reassembly would be the correct answer, but I would appreciate confirmation from someone who knows.