Can't locate timing pin hole

[Ed in Maine]

Hi Ped 58, keep in the back of your mind that this detent on the cam gear is very slight and easy to miss. As others have mentioned, get the engine close to TDC and then watch the timing pin move in slightly. I use a 1/4 in. dowel through the #1 spark plug hole sitting on top of the piston to see it rise up as you approach TDC. Ed

 

[rocket1]

I wouldn't mess with the timing right away,if it sat a year drain the gas tank and carb,it might also be a stuck open intake valve

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I wouldn't mess with the timing right away,if it sat a year drain the gas tank and carb,it might also be a stuck open intake valve

Even though exhaust valves normally have a bit more clearance, they used to be the ones to stick more than the intakes. Now with the corn crap gas, it's often the intakes that getted gummed up and stick. This is especially true if the car is driven and parked over the winter with crap gas in it.

 

[ped58]

I finally got the timing pin to fall into the indent on the timing gear. I started to go farther and farther on the distributer rotor and finally found it, but look where it's at. I must have done something last year and messed up the timing real bad.

Now....should I loosen the cam screw and move the cam so the points
just start to open and then tighten the screw.....thanks

 

[mshmodela]

Replacing 1930 Ford Model A Timing Gear Maine For…: http://youtu.be/L6GxEcJP2Qc

 

[Bob/Kansas City]

I finally got the timing pin to fall into the indent on the timing gear. I started to go farther and farther on the distributer rotor and finally found it, but look where it's at. I must have done something last year and messed up the timing real bad.

Now....should I loosen the cam screw and move the cam so the points
just start to open and then tighten the screw.....thanks

With the pin in the dimple take the rotor off, loosen the screw on the cam and turn it so that, with the rotor back on, it looks like the photo attached.
Be sure that your spark lever on the steering column is all the way up before doing this.
That should get you back into time.
(Picture is from Marco's web site.)