850 Timing Help

[mercurymang]

I'm hoping I can get some confirmation on something. I'm trying to get the timing set and I'm not sure I have it exactly right. Here is a picture of what I have.

My manual says that the line one the flywheel (I think that's the 3 marks in the picture) should line up with the arrow. I guess that would be with the arrow pointing toward the crank correct?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 850 Timing Help

The Arrow should point to the three dots. So, it looks like you have it correct. Now you need to set the idle pickup timing, max spark advance, throttle stop and idle stop.

 

[mercurymang]

Re: 850 Timing Help

Thanks Chris. Off to the left of those three marks is a single dot on the flywheel. Would that be the max advance mark?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 850 Timing Help

Likely that dot is the TDC mark. Match it to the TDC mark on the cowling support and see if #1 Cylinder is at TDC.

 

[mercurymang]

Re: 850 Timing Help

Well the #1 cylinder is at tdc currently so I think the three dots represent tdc. On my 650 (same year) which is a very similar motor, the flywheel has a white strip that shows TDC, Max advance which I think is 23 degrees on that motor, and breakdowns in between. I think the max advance mark on the 650 matches closely to the single dot on this one. I will have to go pull my cowling and check.

 

[mercurymang]

Re: 850 Timing Help

FYI. For anyone else out there that has lost there flywheel decal and has issues finding the tdc mark, I found a handy video that shows how to do without the decal.

 

[Doc279]

Re: 850 Timing Help

Your picture is exactly how I put my new timing belt on my 1974 850. The manual suggests if the marks don't line up perfectly that the distributor arrow should be slightly clockwise from the 3 dots on the flywheel. I did mine that way and started the motor yesterday morning. My engine ran well and I am pleased.

Happy New Year - good luck with your engine!