HELP!!! Base Timing Around 10 BTDC and Out of Ideas

[Robster]

Okay, so I just rebuilt my engine and upon installation and startup I have checked timing several times. Everything lines up at TDC, CAS is not 180 out and I had the special plug grounded and even with the CAS at full retard it is about 10 degress before TDC... please help. Thanks in advance, Rob

 

[ADrewzki]

Rob-
Really the only thing that I can think of is that maybe your timing is off by a little bit. I assume you're using a timing light to get timing. Are you taking your reading off of Cyl 1?

 

[Robster]

Yes, I'm using a timing light. And yes, I'm going off of number 1 cylinder. One thing I forgot to mention when I was posting earlier, is that ocassionally the timing light will crap out and only shine every few seconds or really irradically. Other times it will shine or pulse whatever consistantly. So I don't know what that means.

 

[spoolin27awd]

get a diffrent timing light and check your CAS it might be off internally one tooth is only about 2 to 3 deg and are you running stock cams??


(edit) make shure that your balancer did not slip on the rubber ring

 

[Robster]

Stock cams, I'm gunna try to find a CAS I can switch out with to see if that helps. As for the balancer in teh rubber thing, I have no idea what you're referring to.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

Whats your engine RPMs like when you are checking for timing? Are you grounding out your timing connection under the hood? My timing jumps around 7-3* with it ungrounded, grounded, its perfectly at 5*.

 

[92redman]

Pull the timing sprocket back off and flip the plate around with the timing mark, I am sure if you pull out the spark plug in number 1 and use the screw driver method for finding tdc, you are really like 15 deg off.

 

[ADrewzki]

If I remember correctly, cyl 1/4 fire at the same time. Do you still get 10* BTDC off of cyl 4?

 

[Robster]

Turbo Talon, the RPM's fluctuate a bit cause of the timing being off, but it's around 700 I believe and yes I had the plug ground and even with it ground it changes with the RPM, as it should but even at a steady idle it's still 10 * BTDC.

92redman, I'm not sure what flipping the cover over on the "timing sproket" I'm assuming you mean the crank pulley cover with the notch in it. I don't know what that would do seeing as how the crank pulley is keyed and thus that cover can't move, some clarification as to what you're referring to would be appreciated.

ADrewzki, I can't tell you, but I'll check that and then post back. Although no two cylinders should ever fire at the same time in that engine if I remember correctly.

I'll also try the screw driver method and see what's goin on with that and post an update later today. Until then, thanks a lot guys and keep the suggestions going, I'm just plain out of ideas... Thanks again, Rob

 

[Robster]

Okay, I think I solved this. I did the screw driver method which pointed out that even though I thought I had the cam timing right, it wasn't. So I'll fix that, readjust the CAS with the plug ground and see what happens. Thanks guys

 

[92redman]

That plate with the notch on it isn't symmetrical, if you flip it around, it will change the position of the mark.

 

[Wing0tj]

92redman do you know if you flip that plate over if it is off enought ot bend valves?

 

[92redman]

Ha ha, sorry I haven't checked my email in a while. I don't know if anybody has answered you question about bending valves yet, but I am not entirely sure. It's not that far off so I think if it's just idling, which it won't be easy to rev anyway, you should be fine only being 10 deg or so off. Only way to be sure would be to correct the timing issue and do a leakdown test.