Right or wrong?

[ccmarsh]

72 302 Ford. My distributor cables were set up for a rh rotation, mine is a left hand rotation or counter clockwise. I needed to know where the rotor was so that I could set up the cables accordingly. I have know way to check the timing on this boat right now and, Just so everyone one knows, this engine only has 1200 hours on it and the engine is in great shape. It has never been rebuilt which I am going to do next winter (if my wifes lets me) but I should get away with running it another summer.(famous last words)

This is what I did. I found the pointer comming off the block and set crankshaft to TDC. I then looked where the rotor was and said to myself,"ok cylinder one is ready to fire so the cable for cylinder one goes here so it will fire" and then I placed the cables accordingly in the correct firing order. Now where the TDC marks are there are two white paint marks. One is on the TDC the other is 10 ATDC. Now, i'm guessing my timming is not off and I am also guessing that the white paint marks are from the factory after they set the timming. So I I moved the crankshaft around until I was lined up at 10 ATDC and checked the which cylinder would fire at this point. I didn't have to move the cables mind you but did I do it right?

Please forgive me if I get the lingo wrong and name the parts of the engine incorrectly but after all I am just an apprentice. I am also assuming a lot of things but the way I did it just makes sense to me.

 

[Don S]

Re: Right or wrong?

I found the pointer comming off the block and set crankshaft to TDC. I then looked where the rotor was and said to myself,"ok cylinder one is ready to fire so the cable for cylinder one goes here so it will fire"

At that point, you have a 50/50 chance of being on the compression stroke. (where you have to be in order to be on #1 TDC on the compression stroke.
Here is what I do. Pull all the spark plugs. Put the hose from your compression tester in #1 spark plug hole. Stick your thumb over the end of the hose. Turn engine with a Remote Starter until you feel compression building. Then watch and slowly continue turning the engine till the TDC timing mark is up. Then look at the rotor. That, is #1 TDC

 

[captbjack]

Re: Right or wrong?

well said don that is what i would do.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Right or wrong?

As long as you have it at tdc & the rotor is pointing to the wire that is connected to #1 cylinder it should be close.....
HINT: The ignition wire for # 1 is usually at or near the 6 o'clock position on the cap if the rotor is pointing to 12 o' clock at tdc, you are most likely in the #6 firing position.....
Remove the #1 spark plug & turn the motor over by hand in the direction of normal rotation using a 15/16" socket on the bolt in the center of the crank pulley & feel for compression as the pointer reaches the TDC position....
This is the #1 firing position.....
Put the #1 wire on the closest corresponding terminal on the cap & then put the rest of the wires on in a counter clockwise fashion.....
1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.....
This should be close enough to start the engine, if it will not start you will need to set the timing by loosening the hold down bolt & turning the distrbuter body .......
You need to be at 10 degrees before tdc with the points set at 31-34*....​

 

[ccmarsh]

Re: Right or wrong?

At that point, you have a 50/50 chance of being on the compression stroke. (where you have to be in order to be on #1 TDC on the compression stroke.
Here is what I do. Pull all the spark plugs. Put the hose from your compression tester in #1 spark plug hole. Stick your thumb over the end of the hose. Turn engine with a Remote Starter until you feel compression building. Then watch and slowly continue turning the engine till the TDC timing mark is up. Then look at the rotor. That, is #1 TDC

I wish I could do that Don but I don't have a compression tester. Can't I just stick my finger over it?

 

[Don S]

Re: Right or wrong?

Sure, if you can reach it.

 

[Coors]

Re: Right or wrong?

The piston comes up twice- one on compression, and on on exhaust; they both blow out, but unless you are familiar with it, both feel like compression, get a guage.

 

[Coors]

Re: Right or wrong?

Sure, if you can reach it.

bad Don

 

[Don S]

Re: Right or wrong?

but unless you are familiar with it, both feel like compression,

BULL Hockey. IF you can't tell the difference, then you shouldn't be working on it.

 

[ccmarsh]

Re: Right or wrong?

Sure, if you can reach it.

reach what the spark plug hole? No problem as long as someone else cranks the engine for me.

As long as you have it at tdc & the rotor is pointing to the wire that is connected to #1 cylinder it should be close.....
HINT: The ignition wire for # 1 is usually at or near the 6 o'clock position on the cap if the rotor is pointing to 12 o' clock at tdc, you are most likely in the #6 firing position.....

Never mind. At first I didn't understand what you were saying but I read it again and now I get it?
Remove the #1 spark plug & turn the motor over by hand in the direction of normal rotation using a 15/16" socket on the bolt in the center of the crank pulley & feel for compression as the pointer reaches the TDC position....
This is the #1 firing position.....
Put the #1 wire on the closest corresponding terminal on the cap & then put the rest of the wires on in a counter clockwise fashion.....
1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.....

Did that.


if it will not start you will need to set the timing by loosening the hold down bolt & turning the distrbuter body .......
You need to be at 10 degrees before tdc with the points set at 31-34*....​

Now you lost me. I'm going to go back, read the section of the manual that explains what you just said and read your remark again.

But from what I understand I probably dead on..........of course that's what I want to think. What does everyone else think about what Medoc just said?

Also, does anyone know where the grounding wire can go for the distubator(that's spelled wrong) On end of the grounding wire goes to the ignition coil the other one can go? I found it connected with the condenser wire.

 

[captbjack]

Re: Right or wrong?

A=turn the motor over with a wrench in normal direction with your finger in #1 hole until you feel presure pushing against your finger.continue to turn until pointer on harmonic balancer points to 0 timing mark.
B=look at rotary cap,where ever it is pointing that is #1 cylinder.
C=then just hook all the other wires in the correct seqeunce and direction,this should be good enogh to start.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Right or wrong?

If the motor was running for 1200 hrs ,why change the firing order?
Exactly how are you determining the "crankshaft" rotation? are you looking at the flywheel or the crank pully
You cant change the direction just by moving the firing order.

 

[Don S]

Re: Right or wrong?

A=turn the motor over with a wrench in normal direction with your finger in #1 hole until you feel presure pushing against your finger.continue to turn until pointer on harmonic balancer points to 0 timing mark.
B=look at rotary cap,where ever it is pointing that is #1 cylinder.
C=then just hook all the other wires in the correct seqeunce and direction,this should be good enogh to start.

Already said that once capt. See the first reply to his post

 

[Maclin]

Re: Right or wrong?

Coors, if the valvetrain is intact then the exhaust valve will be open on the non-compression stroke, very little chance of confusing them in my opinion, no compression can build at all with a valve open.

 

[captbjack]

Re: Right or wrong?

Already said that once capt. See the first reply to his post

yes i saw that just seems that he is getting confused so i thought i would sipplify for him ( you nailed it)

 

[ccmarsh]

Re: Right or wrong?

If the motor was running for 1200 hrs ,why change the firing order?

I'm not changing the fireing order. I had new cables put on and they put them in the wrong firing sequence.

Exactly how are you determining the "crankshaft" rotation? are you looking at the flywheel or the crank pully

The normal rotation for the engine is that the crankshaft rotates clockwise, the rotor in the disibutor(spelled wrong again) spins counter clockwise.

You cant change the direction just by moving the firing order.

I know that but thank you.

Coors, if the valvetrain is intact then the exhaust valve will be open on the non-compression stroke, very little chance of confusing them in my opinion, no compression can build at all with a valve open.

Thank you.

 

[ccmarsh]

Re: Right or wrong?

The piston comes up twice- one on compression, and on on exhaust; they both blow out, but unless you are familiar with it, both feel like compression, get a guage.

How much for a descent gauge and what kind?

 

[Don S]

Re: Right or wrong?

You don't need a gauge, stick your thumb (or finger) over the plug hole and crank the engine. Trust me, you will feel the difference.
You can find usable compression testers everywhere. Any auto parts store or online at any tool store. If that isn't good enough, do a google search for compression tester.
All you are trying to find is TDC on the compression stroke. You don't need to go buy anything. No matter what some beer tells you.

 

[ccmarsh]

Re: Right or wrong?

thank you

 

[ccmarsh]

Re: Right or wrong?

yes i saw that just seems that he is getting confused so i thought i would sipplify for him ( you nailed it)

Thanks you. Everything helps.