Timing question.

[jaystcb]

Hello. Ok I have searched the forum and Facebook syty and i'm getting conflicting results. I can't find the information in any of my books. So...

I'm double checking TDC. Right now piston one is up. I need to know where the harmonic balancer timing mark is supposed to be in relation to the timing gage. Right now it is at -5. Is this correct or should it be at 0?

 

[wildphil]

Re: Timing question.

You unplug the wire in the inside of the truck. Passanger side, just under the edge of the carpet. I think it is brown.

Set the mark on 0 on the tab.

And hope your balancer ring has not slipped. Mine was on 2 of my 3 trucks. And I have seen it on others.

 

[jaystcb]

Re: Timing question.

You unplug the wire in the inside of the truck. Passanger side, just under the edge of the carpet. I think it is brown.

Set the mark on 0 on the tab.

Yes. I did just that. But my truck was running rough so I decided to check TDC. Facebook says -5. Is correct. A post I found here said at TDC the mark on balancer should be at zero.

 

[liquidswords88]

Re: Timing question.

The correct answer is zero. But if your balancer slipped all bets are off

 

[Don W.]

Re: Timing question.

The correct answer is zero. But if your balancer slipped all bets are off

X2. If, in fact, #1 is at TDC and that's what you see on the damper then it has slipped. Locating TDC on an assembled motor is an inexact science IMHO. Correct timing is -0- with brown wire disconnected. Again, if you're positive that the motor is at TDC thne you could use -5 as -0- . A couple degrees of timing "error" shouldn't cause a rough running truck. Again just my :2cents:

 

[jaystcb]

Re: Timing question.

X2. If, in fact, #1 is at TDC and that's what you see on the damper then it has slipped. Locating TDC on an assembled motor is an inexact science IMHO. Correct timing is -0- with brown wire disconnected. Again, if you're positive that the motor is at TDC thne you could use -5 as -0- . A couple degrees of timing "error" shouldn't cause a rough running truck. Again just my :2cents:

With piston 1 at top of cylinder and balancer at -5. I remarked 0 on the balancer with a marker. I reset the timing to that mark. The truck did not idle very well, It had more tach flutter. Then I reset the timing to tha original balancer timing mark. The truck ran a little smoother. Then I reset the timing +5. Deg. From balancer mark and the truck idled perfect but had no real power. IDK. I'm going to hook it up to Tunerpro today and get a couple logs and try to find out what is going on.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Timing question.

Are you using a piston stop to find TDC? If so, you need to spin motor both ways to find TDC.

 

[jaystcb]

Re: Timing question.

Are you using a piston stop to find TDC? If so, you need to spin motor both ways to find TDC.

I used my eyeball. I had to jack up the truck, stick my head inside the wheel well with a flashlight and rotate the motor at the same time. Fun times. I only spun the motor ONE WAY. I will check TDC the other way. Thanks.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Timing question.

I used my eyeball. I had to jack up the truck, stick my head inside the wheel well with a flashlight and rotate the motor at the same time. Fun times. I only spun the motor ONE WAY. I will check TDC the other way. Thanks.

Sorry, that won't work. You have to be more exact. The piston moves VERY little as it passes through TDC. With the heads on you have to use a piston stop, Rotate the motor to where it hits the stop, mark the damper, rotate it back the other way until it hits the stop, mark the damper again. Between the two marks is TDC.

 

[jaystcb]

Re: Timing question.

Sorry, that won't work. You have to be more exact. The piston moves VERY little as it passes through TDC. With the heads on you have to use a piston stop, Rotate the motor to where it hits the stop, mark the damper, rotate it back the other way until it hits the stop, mark the damper again. Between the two marks is TDC.

I'll give it a shot.

 

[wildphil]

Re: Timing question.

And if you find out it has slipped. You may want to put a new balancer on. If you ever have to set timing again for any reason. You will have to find TDC again. Because the balancer will probably slip some more.

On my blue Ty when I knew it had slipped. I never set the timing until I had the new balancer installed. Dorman sells a stock replacement.