5 replies to this topic

[Matt Zane]

Hello Guys,

 

I hope this message finds you well, I’m having a little issue getting the car started consistently. The car is a 74 saloon, it had the engine replaced in the late seventies going from the service history I have.

 

I have an accuspark electronic ignition with a  strong spark. The carb has a slightly rich mixture (The HIF38 was not on the car originally).

 

I suspect the timing may be out, and I went to check it, however, I don’t appear to have a saw tooth timing mark near the bottom pulley/harmonic balancer.

 

The book of lies says that there are timing marks on the flywheel that can be seen using a mirror through the access hole in the clutch cover, however, I can’t for the life of me see them.

 

I had read a comment some time ago that you can set the timing using the nut that holds the clutch plate in.

 

Would anyone be able to give me some pointers or a little bit more information about that?

 

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

 

Kind Regards,

 

Matt

 

 

 

[nicklouse]

Have a read it my help get you to the right area to be looking http://www.theminifo...4-timing-marks/

[Matt Zane]

Hi Nick louse,

Thanks for the response, I'll take another look. Even with a mirror and the timing light the only thing I could really see was a nut on the clutch plate.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is there any other solutions apart from replacing the harmonic balancer/pulley and the timing chain cover?

Thanks,

Matt

[smurfomatic]

What timing gun do you have? It may be that the timing is so far out that you can't see any of the marks, if it's an adjustable gun keep turning it up a couple of degrees at a time and see if you can spot the timing marks.

[Ethel]

Looking at the photo in the linked topic that looks a bit like the mark that was used to match a similar mark on the backplate to show the correct orientation after they've been balanced.

 

You could feel through the spark plug hole for no. 1 reaching TDC  and look for bolt head, then timing marks at that point.

 

Here's one Spider prepared earlier, showing what you're looking for

 

 

If there's nothing to be found you could find TDC  by stopping or measuring the piston an equal distance down the bore either side of tdc, making marks against a reference then finding the mid point.

[Matt Zane]

Hi Ethel,

 

Thanks for your suggestion, I followed your instructions, and managed to find the timing marks on the flywheel. It turns out that I didn't have the mirror at quite the right angle!

 

Cheers,

 

Matt

 

 

Looking at the photo in the linked topic that looks a bit like the mark that was used to match a similar mark on the backplate to show the correct orientation after they've been balanced.

 

You could feel through the spark plug hole for no. 1 reaching TDC  and look for bolt head, then timing marks at that point.

 

Here's one Spider prepared earlier, showing what you're looking for

 

 

If there's nothing to be found you could find TDC  by stopping or measuring the piston an equal distance down the bore either side of tdc, making marks against a reference then finding the mid point.