Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Help with a timing pin problem?

[SRath]

After a two hour session at the car wash and @ $40 worth of quarters, I actually got most of the crud off my motor today. I'm preparing to do the KDP tab fix along with a new front seal. I also need to do a valve lash adjustment and replace the leaking valve cover gaskets. I decided to start there after fixing a small heater hose coolant leak that the washing also revealed.



I printed a copy of the valve adjustment instructions from Geno's garage and decided to try to find TDC with the timing pin. They hide that little guy real well! After more groping than I've done since I was a teenager, I finally felt something that just might be it...



I pushed; and it moved a little. I pulled; and nothing happened. Having read that it can stick, I pulled and wiggled it a little more. The whole thing popped out in my hand!



It appears to be intact. It has an o-ring in the middle and a small 1/8 to 3/16 inch long tip.



What is supposed to hold that little bugger in?



If I just shove it back in the hole, how do I know if it is in far enough but not so far that the tip gets sheared off?



I greatly appreciate any help.



Scott

 

[Bob4x4]

The oring will hold it in if you don't have excessive blowby. You can not push it in too far unless you are at TDC



Bob

 

[SRath]

So if the blowby ever gets too high, that thing will be blown out of the hole and I'll lose a lot of oil in a hurry? Is it just my motor, or are they all designed with nothing to limit the movement or keep it from falling or blowing out?



That just seems like quite an oversight by Cummins since it would only require a forked tab around the necked area to prevent that.



If there isn't supposed to be anything holding it or limiting it, I guess I'll just shove it back in. What a weird design... has this happened to anyone else?



Thanks for the fast reply, Bob!

 

[tony597fitter]

Shove it back in there and quit worrying about it.

In order to get the timing pin to go in the hole, you need two people. One person needs to bar the engine over very SLOWLY, and the other needs to keep pressure on the pin. It will just pop in there when the pin and the hole meet. It takes some patience but it will go.

When it goes, mark the harmonic balancer at 12 oclock or 6 oclock, so you dont have to go through that again.

MAKE SURE YOU PULL THE PIN BACK OUT OR IT WILL BREAK OFF.

 

[Bob4x4]

So if the blowby ever gets too high, that thing will be blown out of the hole and I'll lose a lot of oil in a hurry? Is it just my motor, or are they all designed with nothing to limit the movement or keep it from falling or blowing out?



That just seems like quite an oversight by Cummins since it would only require a forked tab around the necked area to prevent that.



If there isn't supposed to be anything holding it or limiting it, I guess I'll just shove it back in. What a weird design... has this happened to anyone else?



Thanks for the fast reply, Bob!

There is a star washer that is installed at the factory,most people pop-em out and call it good



Bob