Timing help

[Ian R.]

Hi all, running into a problem. I pulled the distributor to replace the ignition coil. I followed the manual on how to reinstall and set the timing. But when I use the timing light the mark on the harmonic balancer is about 40* BTDC with the distributor cap turn as far clockwise as it can.

I confirmed that cylinder 1 is at TDC on the compression stroke and that the pin mark is aligned with the arrow on the distributor. Any ideas on how to get the timing to advance?

thanks!

ian

[Burntboot]

Is it running well?
Do you have the jumper wire installed?
When you set it to TDC, did you verify the zero mark lines up with the slot on the pulley?

[Ian R.]

thanks for the reply and questions burntboot. It idles descent, there is a subtle miss. The diagnostic plug was jumped, and working. But the distributor cap is rotated clockwise(advanced?) so for that one of the terminal end of the spark plug wire is sandwiched between the fuel line at runs along the side of the engine block.

To your question about TDC, I am not sure if it is aligned. Do you know how many degrees after the compression is released is TDC? Should the HB mark and 0 on the block align right when the pressure is released? What I did was I took the spark plug out on cylinder 1 and attached a compression test hose ( just the hose so I could feel the pressure build) and rotated the harmonic balancer until the pressure released. I looked down at the harmonic balancer and rotated the pulley some more until the mark on the pulley aligned with the 0 on the block. Hope I conveyed what I did clearly:/

Ian

[Ian R.]

There has to be a few degrees of rotation of the crankshaft when the piston is at the top of the stroke before it returns down, just not sure how many degrees that is.

[Burntboot]

Try this

Thread: Timing issue?? That's my guess.... (https://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/showthread.php?7167-Timing-issue-That-s-my-guess)
When the piston reaches the top of the stroke, the timing mark on the pulley should align with the ZERO mark on the timing cover and the distributor rotor should be pointing at the contact for No 1 ignition wire in the cap (and the distributor should be at (or very near) the middle of its adjustment range)

This would confirm the balancer isnt spun and the distributor is correctly aligned

[Ian R.]

Thanks again for that! I have read something similar on a different forum. Basically feeling the piston just reach the top of the stroke with a long piece of mig wire through the spark plug hole. Then make a mark on the HB at 0 degrees. Then continuing to turning the HB until the piston just starts to descend and making another mark on the HB at 0 degrees. Measure halfway between the two marks that were made and this is TDC. The rotor position this is key information!

ian

[Burntboot]

When the the piston stops moving up, it is at the top of its stroke and the notch in the pulley should be at Zero on the timing cover
If you have rotation of the crankshaft without piston movement, either there is a flaw in your method, a damaged HB or serious internal engine problems.

A wooden spoon is the tool of choice, nothing to damage the internals, yet stiff enough to not flex or deflect.

[Ian R.]

I verified everything listed above. HB is correct the rotor is facing position 1 (or cylinder 1) on the distributor.

However, when I tried to insert the distributor after putting the engine in TDC on piston 1, it does not go in when the oil pump is position at 30 degrees. I had to move the oil pump gear a bit the get the distributor insert completely. This made me think that distributor was off by a gear. So I bumped the starter 1 click and tried again and nailed it! Timing is on and the van runs better than it has in awhile with new plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor, and coil!

Thanks !

ian