Valve Adjustment and Timing

[JLEONARD]

I KEEP BREAKIN' STUFF

Had an engineering manager once who favorite saying was "If you ain't breakin' stuff you ain't learnin' nothin'"



Got to push the limits to learn... . otherwise your just proving what's already known.

 

[hotram03]

Alright I went to adjust the valves brought it up close to the 1st adjusting sequence for the #1 int & exhaust, while checking the others to make sure the right ones were loose and ready for adjustment, timing pin went in, I marked the balancer at the 12:00 position for ease of operation, made the adjustments, rotated 360 deg back to TDC and we could not get the timing pin to go in? Fought this thing for 2 hrs, using a snap-on barring tool to turn motor over, made sure the right valves were ready to adjust on the right sequence, and that timing pin refused to go in? Does the timing pin pop in some and then just a little more when it hits the hole in the cam gear? I assume this is what it does, because it done this with me. I adjusted 2nd sequence without the timing pin being in, the correct rockers were loose, was this ok to do?

 

[cojhl2]

Doesn't the pin go in the camshaft? That would make it 180deg out of phase on second try.



Do I understand or am I the one out of phase????!!!!

 

[Matthug]

Yes it was OK. Rotating the crank 360 puts the cam 180 out, no timing pin hole there. This is why you have to mark the damper to rotate it the 360* because the timing pin only goes in at TDC on the compression stroke.

 

[cerberusiam]

The timing pin just fits into a small indentation in the gear. Its pretty tough to get to get it initially and with the lash in the gears rotating the engine will not always align it. Ita almost easier to pull the pin out and use your finger to feel for the indent to get things close. When adjusting the valves its not critical to have the pin in, just thing sin the general area. FYI, the timing pin is an approximation only and is not always correct. If your concerned you should find true TDC and mark the damper pulley so you can find it again. Cheers.

 

[hotram03]

Thanks guys, so thats why another fellow TDR member said mark the balancer when it was at TDC and rotate, I didnt know that there was only one cam hole only for TDC, which makes since I guess now that I think about it. I am going with the Companion Cylinder adjustment next time, and forget that stupid Timing pin, boy my '03 was alot easier than that thing, atleast I could do it by myself, thanks for all the help, new 1st genner and still on a major learning curve.

 

[AlK]

I agree the little pin is bit of a pain. I made myself a little tool which makes it easy to pull out the timing pin. You can find a picture of the tool in my picture gallery. After having pulled the timing pin I take the "O" ring off the pin and then reinsert the pin. While I turn the alternator with left hand I put pressure on the pin with the right hand until I hit TDC. Then I mark the balancer and pull the pin back out.