Finding TDC #1 Cylinder

[celeryman22]

Hi, I just installed my distrubtor on my rebuilt motor and now I am questioning if I have it installed at the correct timing.
I can see the rocker arms since the valve covers are off, and I can see the stem of the exhaust valve since there is no manifold.
Heres whats going on:

Intake Valve is closing
Exhaust valve is opening (atleast the spring is starting to compress)

Timing reads 0 on my vibration damper.

The damper keyway is at the 2:00 position.

Does this make sense?

 

[GerryLP]

When the #1 is at TDC, both valves will be closed (no tension or minimal tension on the rockers). I am not sure about the dampener key way and the marking on the "zero" degrees on the outer circumference, but I believe that they probably do not lign up on the same radial location. Check the dampener for a loose outer ring.

GerryLP:cool

 

[RodsnRides]

Gerry LP is right-at TDC both valves are closed. With the intake off, you should just be able to "roll" both Intake and Exhaust pushrods in your fingers. The balancer should be at "0" on the timing pointer. If not, the balancer may have slipped on the rubber ring. I think you are right about the keyway being at the 2 o'clock position, but I'm at work and can't dash to the garage to look.

Distributor rotor should be pointing at the 7 o'clock position, when installed.

Rick

 

[celeryman22]

Are both valves closed for the complete stroke, I know the valves should be closed or there would be no compression, but do both springs have zero tension for the compression stroke? I know I got the distributor in the correct location, its just that TDC thing.

ORRRRR

have I been spinning the motor the wrong way and I've got it at the Intake stroke.

Exhaust valve closing -> Intake valve opening spinning the motor the correct way

Intake Vavle closing -> Exhaust valve opening spinning the mote the incorrect way

 

[mvftw]

Whenever I play with the distrubitor, I use an old cap and cut out the top but leave the terminals, that I can see the rotor pointing to number 1...

 

[celeryman22]

I think I have talked myself into me spinning the motor the wrong direction. I will go home tonight and wrestle with it again.

 

[JohnZ]

At #1 TDC, both #1 valves will be fully closed (both rocker arms even with each other). One full revolution either way will put you at #6 TDC, and its rocker arms will be even with each other.

 

[Sam Colalillo]

This is how I do it:

• Rotate engine by using a 9/16 socket on the harmonic balancer.
• You will be tightening the harmonic balancer bolt, if you are loosening it your rotating the engines crankshaft in the wrong direction.
• Watch the intake and exhaust valves of cylinder number one.
• When the intake valves starts to close rotate the crankshaft until harmonic balancer stripe comes around and aligns up with zero on the timing tab.
• Now you are at TDC, if you continue to rotate the crankshaft the exhaust valve will start to open. (Note the above step may take a half a turn or more depending on the lobe separation of your camshaft.)
• When you see the exhaust valve starting to open, rotate the engine backwards until the balancer aligns back up with the stripe on the timing tab. (Note: I always go ahead and go past the TDC mark to make sure the exhaust valve opens next to insure I was at TDC and not 180 degrees off, and then I rotate it back to TDC.)
  [*]Next drop the distributor in so the rotor aligns up with #1 on the cap.
  
  
  

 

[celeryman22]

This is how I do it:

• Rotate engine by using a 9/16 socket on the harmonic balancer.
• You will be tightening the harmonic balancer bolt, if you are loosening it your rotating the engines crankshaft in the wrong direction.
• Watch the intake and exhaust valves of cylinder number one.
• When the intake valves starts to close rotate the crankshaft until harmonic balancer stripe comes around and aligns up with zero on the timing tab.
• Now you are at TDC, if you continue to rotate the crankshaft the exhaust valve will start to open. (Note the above step may take a half a turn or more depending on the lobe separation of your camshaft.)
• When you see the exhaust valve starting to open, rotate the engine backwards until the balancer aligns back up with the stripe on the timing tab. (Note: I always go ahead and go past the TDC mark to make sure the exhaust valve opens next to insure I was at TDC and not 180 degrees off, and then I rotate it back to TDC.)
  [*]Next drop the distributor in so the rotor aligns up with #1 on the cap.
  
  
  

I took me a few trys but I got it using the starter and having a friend apply presure to the cap as I touched the starter. I ended up stopping just before TDC then putting in the distributor then touching the starter. After a few tries I nailed it bang on.