BENT timing marker!

[Powerhouse]

I just noticed the other day that my timing marker was bent. I straightened it and also noticed it's bent in towards the chain cover as well. I have been running myengine at 2 BTDC...which was not actually correct because it was out of position. I had trouble with a popping sound out the tail pipe like a sticking valve...I tried the water trick...I guess it worked...but still no change it popping. Now that I rebent the timing marker straight...and re-adjusted the dizzy...it doesn't pop as much. I actually decided to retard the timing about 3 more degrees..and it doesn't pop at all now! How can I tell where the timing mark should be bent to? Or should I just keep timing by ear?

[martybose]

If you are running an original head there will be a small plug in the head for #6 cylinder. If you can get it out you can use a long rod to find actual top dead center, then set your pointer to point to the TDC mark on the balancer.

Marty

[Powerhouse]

COOL! I will try it..THANKS MUCH

so i guess tdc is when the rod is at the highest projection from the valve....??????

[martybose]

COOL! I will try it..THANKS MUCH

so i guess tdc is when the rod is at the highest projection from the valve....??????

That's true, but the most accurate way of getting TDC is to find the rough TDC as you mention, then pick a measurement slightly lower than that. There will be two points where you can get that measurement, one before and one after TDC. Move to one of those points and mark where on the damper the pointer sits, then move to the other one and mark the damper where the pointer is then. The point halfway between the two marks on your damper is the true TDC.

Marty

[Powerhouse]

great method!

I just tried to clean some gunk of the marker...and it FELL OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOW i have no marker...it must have been really smashed at on point to just fall off. OH well....THAT SUCKS!! Now I have a wooden dowel secured by silicone in the radiator pointing at TDC...sorta...so at least I know where it could be.

[Powerhouse]

here's a pic of what I have now...ain't it grand..#$!@#!@#!

[Don Coatney]

That's true, but the most accurate way of getting TDC is to find the rough TDC as you mention, then pick a measurement slightly lower than that. There will be two points where you can get that measurement, one before and one after TDC. Move to one of those points and mark where on the damper the pointer sits, then move to the other one and mark the damper where the pointer is then. The point halfway between the two marks on your damper is the true TDC.

Marty

Marty;

Would not a dial indicator be the most accurate way to find TDC?

[Powerhouse]

That peg is my pointer...it's just a dowel that's stuck into the radiator and held in with silicone...

[martybose]

Marty;

Would not a dial indicator be the most accurate way to find TDC?

Sure, if you happen to have one; I don't! You'd still want to use a lower that TDC reading and split the difference.

Actually, a positive stop would also be very accurate, assuming you could turn the motor backwards by hand.

Marty

[dirty dan]

great method!

I just tried to clean some gunk of the marker...and it FELL OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOW i have no marker...it must have been really smashed at on point to just fall off. OH well....THAT SUCKS!! Now I have a wooden dowel secured by silicone in the radiator pointing at TDC...sorta...so at least I know where it could be.

Welcome to my world! No timing mark pointer on the engine, but that won't matter, because I haven't found a timing mark on my pulley either. I'll have to put a dial indicator on it when I got to set the timing.