timing trouble

Ok folks, i'm fixin to burn this thing. The PO had the timing off in my f 134 very badly. After doing some work (head gasket) I'm trying to get her running again. One big problem..no timing marks anywhere. No notch on the pulley, no timing tab nothing. I have read the book on timing this thing, but still no luck. I look in the sparkplug hole and bring it to TDC, the rotor is pointed about 5-4 o'clock, put the wires on and it tries to start, but won't take off. There is not enough adjustment in the dist. to turn it anymore. What gives? Am I still off a tooth?

 

I have both screws loose for both adjustments. It will run just a little bit, but only as fast as a sewin machine. You can read the numbers on the belt it runs so slow. it doesn't pop or anything. Im fixin to pull my hair out.

 

Same prob with mine when I got it.
Didn't feel like re-indexing the oil pump gear so I lengthened the slot in the adjustment plate by ~3/8". That gave plenty of adjustment.
Note: I had to remove the fliptop oiler because it bumped into the block. I inserted a small piece of tubing instead with a plastic tube cap.

 

Smokie!
On mine, same trouble, so I moved plug wires one position and now dist must be turned back the other way to adjust timing...but it runs a little better. Let us know how you solve problem. Others may benefit from your knowledge (me) Ha. Bob in Arkansas

 

I have moved the plug wires forward one spot, back one spot, where they should be, and ZILCH. It seems as if the rotor is in between wire posts not directly on one and needs to be turned just that much more.

 

Thats how I fixed one of mine also. You only have 4 wires to play with. Make sure you're @TDC on the compression stroke and mark your pulley and timing cover, then adjust the dist 'til it lines up with one tower on the cap. You should have adequate movement available to fine tune the timing.Put on your wires 1342 (note direction as stated above) and let her rip. If it still won't rev up, check advance mechanism or fuel delivery.

 

Here is the history. I've had it running kinda good before. It would revv and idle but had a miss. Long story short, no compression on #1. Valves going up and down fine. Pulled head, exhaust valve not closing all the way. Removed valve. Retainer broken and holding valve open. Fixed valve situation. Replaced head. Rewired. Now problem to date. Dist. was pointed to 7-8 o'clock before valve work. I bought a manual. It said 5-4 o"clock. Indexed dist. and now my woes.

 

Put it back to 7-8 o'clock. One would assume you fixed the miss problem with your repairs. Put the dist back the way it was and it should refire if it ran before. One step at a time. How did you "index" the dist? Try to eliminate all the variables you can, if you go back to the original setting where it would run you need to check else where. What did you "rewire"?

 

Forget the absolute orientation and think about how the distributor works. At compression stroke TDC for #1, the rotor has to point at the #1 wire. Half a turn of the crank, and rotor now points to the #3 wire. Note that the piston comes to the TDC twice in a cycle, ie the crankshaft rotates twice for each complete rotation of the rotor.

The rotational orientation of the distributor is arbitrary. If you put it together right, it has to work, regardless of the whether it's at 4, 7 or 13 o'clock.

 

I indexed the dist. as per threads in this forum. Pulling oil pump, turning and reinstalling. What i mean by rewiring was I put the plug wires back on.

 

My guess is you gotta re-index. Was running before you moved it, right? Dist can only go in one way with the offset slot. By moving the pump you have moved the available timing area for the dist.

 

Thanks Tim. I'm with ya. Makes total sense. Maybe I was off on my thought of being on TDC. W/O timing marks kinda hard to tell. I'm pulling valve covers again.

 

Thanks to all. I will be trying this tonight after work.

 

This might sound goofy.

pull the adjustment screw completely out. Have a partner operate the starter, and slowly spin the distributer. Some where in the 360 degrees of rotation the beastie will fire. Adjust for smooth running. shut her off. mark where #1 wire is located now.Mark the side of the distributer, if you can. With out disturbing the distributer, pop the cap off and note where the rotor is pointing now. You will want to rotate the crank by hand or remote starter button to point the rotor at the mark you made on the distributer.
When you pull the valve cover you will find #1 intake valve closed.
Now with out disturbing the crank setting rotate the distributer body back to line up the adjusting screw hole with the slot and put the screw back. Take the #1 wire and insert it into the tower corresponding to the position the rotor is now pointing to. You should be real close to where you want to be.

I don't have any timing marks on my engine either, just the notch in the pully, but no pointers or indicator arms. Makes finding a starting point difficult.

I make my own marker pointer.R)

 

I should be smacked for not thinking of that. Thank you.

 

If you can get it to top dead center, an easy way to get it to fire is:
1. get engine to TDC
2. bring the crankshaft 5* back, (a little less than 1/2 an inch)
3. loosed the distributor bolt and remove cap/rotor
4. turn key to "on" position
5. turn the distributor all the way counter clockwise, then very slowly turn it clockwise....at the exact second the points spark, you have set it to 5* advanced, (if that is where the crank is)
6. tighten, assemble, and start.
If you have electronic ignition, this wont work......
Hope this helps, it got mine running.....and I got it from Moses Ludel in the Jeep owners Bible.....

 

small light bulb in a socket with pigtails and clamps works for that. Easier to see.
hook the light to the distributer side of the coil,Key on, TDC, (or as close to 5º as possible) and slowly turn in direction of rotation. Light goes on, and Bob's your uncle!

No timing marks is still a PITA!

 

Ok guys here is the poop. The PO had things all skeeeroood up. Me, working on this thing for the first time, had no idear how it's supposed to look. The dist hold down bracket was upside down, dist. 180 out, thus out of clock. Put all as it should be, it hit the first lick and runs like a swiss watch. I have never had anything to idle so smooth and slow!!!!! Burp the throttle and she doesn't hesitate or hickup. Thanks to all!!!!!