Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:43:54 -0700
Reply-To: Tom Young <tomyoung1@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Young <tomyoung1@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Timing tips for Idiots
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
The easy way to turn the engine over is to remove the spark plugs - no
compression then - and remove the plastic grill that covers the pulley.
Then, you can use a ratchet wrench on the center bolt of the pulley - turn
clockwise only - or even just turn the engine by hand by pulling on the
pulley and timing belt.
You should have a plastic timing scale that's visible above the top of the
pulley and is attached to the engine by two of the bolts that hold the
plastic grille in place. If you don't have one, get one.
As far as TDC goes, you don't need screaming precision here, just "close
enough" so you can install the distributor, get the engine started, then
time the engine correctly using a timing light, your timing scale and the
notch on the pulley. You can actually look down the spark plug hole and
watch the #1 piston go up and down and "roll over" TDC as the engine turns
over - having someone pull over the engine while you stare down the hole is
convenient, but not necessary - and you can also see the valves open and
shut. If the piston is at TDC with a valve open you know it's at the top of
its exhaust stroke, not compression stroke, so turn the engine over some
more until the piston is at TDC and you *can't* see any valves. Then you'll
know it's at TDC of the compression stroke. The top of the distributor
drive gear should look like the picture in Bentley and you slide the
distributor into place with the rotor pointing at the notch in the rim of
the distributor.
As far as the timing "notch" on the pulley: it's not really a "notch", more
like a thin line on the *front* of the pulley rim (the side away from you
when you're crouched down behind the engine) so it can be a little hard to
find. If you've got the engine at TDC the "notch" should be somewhat to the
left of 12 o'clock; you may have to feel for it with your fingernail. Once
you've found it, mark it with some paint so you can see it when the timing
light flashes.
Tom Young
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Johnson" <davidj@ELPASOTEL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 6:43 PM
Subject: Timing tips for Idiots
> Ok - the back story - big engine fire, top part of engine toast, got
> parts from another list member, now working on reassembly.
>
> Ok, so that is out of the way. Now, I have to assume that the vacuum
> advance on the distributor is toasted, and quite possibly the plate
> itself might be warped a little from the fire. So I am going to
> replace the distributor. Now, I have read the John Muir book, and
> the Bentley, and both are surprisingly little help. Bentley simply
> said get the engine to TDC and then put the distributor in, as if any
> vaguely trained monkey could find TDC. Muir offers a little more
> help, but does not seem to translate too well to a Vanagon.
>
> So - any tips here? I don't sen a timing scale anywhere, and have
> yet to find any sort of timing notch, although I suspect one might be
> on the pulley I can sorta see through the dome-shaped grill that
> protects the v-belt. Also, I don't see where I am supposed to be
> able to slip a wrench on and crank the engine around by hand
> either. Any help on this would be appreciated.
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