timing pin

cooke

cooke

Member
I bought this a car about a month ago and just put a HC head on it, all seems good but I would like to time it. When I attempt to push the timing pin into place while slowly cranking by hand the pin does not go in. I even tried a smaller diameter pin, no luck. Whats the next best way to get TDC on #1?? I have made three or four revolutions with the hand crank with no luck, I assume this is more than enough?

Thanks
 
Removing the spark plugs may help. It allows you to turn the crank slower to find that tiny sliver of space where the pin slips in.
 
newshirt said:
Removing the spark plugs may help. It allows you to turn the crank slower to find that tiny sliver of space where the pin slips in.
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x2. Its very tricky. I honestly made about 10 revolutions by hand before I got the hang of locating it. Turn reeeaaaalllly slowly. Its easy to miss.
 
Watch the rotor and place a coat hanger inside #1 piston (make sure you are not on a valve) move the crank until the rotor points to #1 position on the Dist body and the coat hanger is just stops moving up.
 
I look at the distributor and when it's close to number 1 , I slow down on the hand crank rotation and then find the depression as I turn the crank with one hand and push the pin with the other.

It's easy to miss.

Marc
 
Another option . With number one plug removed put your thumb over the hole ,turn it over by working the self starter leaver with your hand ,when it blows your thumb off you know you have likely just gone past ,With a large screwdriver in the spokes of the pulley pull it back or forth ,while pressing on the pin
 
Yo, dimple hunters,
Suppliers have an inexpensive timing indicator that bolts to one of the timing cover bolts. Buy one, once you find TDC, make a mark on pulley & paint it white. Then it will be easy! If you're runnin' the '32 style cap with reglar wires, you can set the timing with a timin' lite!
I used to have a TDC whistle that screwed in the plug hole, it whistled one note on compression, and changed pitch when you went past TDC, it would get you "CLOSE!" If I grabbed the pulley & rocked it, it would go, TOOT, TWEET, TOOT, TWEET, (Doesn't take much to AMUSE an idiot!!
Wish I could find if someone still sells them. Bill W.
 
Bill,

With two (2) Model A engines, eight (8) whistles, & a couple of jugs of moonshine you could have had a full blown diatonic musical ochestra for an old fashion country barn dance.
 
H. L. Chauvin said:
Bill,

With two (2) Model A engines, eight (8) whistles, & a couple of jugs of moonshine you could have had a full blown diatonic musical ochestra for an old fashion country barn dance.
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H.L, my Buddy,
You just MADE my day!! I just laughed & laughed & laughed, 'til I almost p**d myself, the Dog:cool: can't figger' out what's goin' on????? I'll go treat him to a Hitchock movie! I still have 377 old unwatched movies from the collection I STOLE for $115.00!!!! Bill W.
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
I still have 377 old unwatched movies from the collection I STOLE for $115.00!!!! Bill W.
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Yeah, those old Beta & VHS flicks are a real goldmine. Had a trunk full, turned them in for the scrap plastic, got $0.06 a pound. Almost paid for the gas to recycle the plastic.
 
Pull the spark plugs out. Have a helper turn the engine over with a crank while you use a mirror and a flash light to see when the timing mark on the cam gear shows up in the hole in the timing cover.

Tom Endy
 
Someplace I read a suggestion to grind the tip of the pin to a bit of a cone shape and it works very well.
Al
 
Mike V. Florida said:
Watch the rotor and place a coat hanger inside #1 piston (make sure you are not on a valve) move the crank until the rotor points to #1 position on the Dist body and the coat hanger is just stops moving up.
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This is the way I do it and it never fails. No guessing. This way you know for sure your TDC, Best way in my opinion.
 
Sometimes, some are not aware that the no. 1 piston rises to the top twice whereby both times are not indicating the top dead center, (TDC) position.


1. If one's timing gear has a tiny indentation, or no indentation, to try to locate this indentation, first remove all four (4) spark plugs so the engine can rotate easily with a hand crank.

2. Next observe piston no.1 through spark plug hole no. 1, (closest to the radiator), to watch piston no. 1 as it rises to the top twice, one right after the other while slowly turning the hand crank.

3. Then, while holding one's finger over & sealing spark plug hole no. 1, one time just before no. 1 piston rises to the top, (the exhaust stroke), it will not compress air against your finger because the exhaust valve is open; but on the very next time it rises to the top, (the compression stroke), it will compress air against your finger because the intake valve & exhaust valves are both closed.

4. The time the piston rises towards the top "and" compresses air against your finger, i.e., (the compression stroke) is the time when the timing pin should slide in a recess in the timing gear as the piston reaches the top. This no. 1 piston position is known as top dead center, (TDC).

Hope this helps.
 
From my website:

timingpin.jpg
 
Warning: My friend in Washington was using a right angle drill & a NEW bit to deepen his dimple. Didn't seem to cut, so he pushed a little and the bit caught and drilled it way TOO deep.!!! Weeks later, it developed a knock! He's going to remove the small timing cover inspection cover to see if his drilling caused part of tooth or two to break off! The car still runs, though. Bill W.
 
Thanks for all the reply's, I ended up using the coat hanger, I will be taking the car out today for a test with the new HC head.
 
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