Re: 115 V4 dead top cylinders.
ok... In my case I used a dial indicator with a magnetic base. Get a piece of metal to lay on the lower cowling and put mag. indicator on. Take plugs out and insert indicator in spark plug hole. (You are always supposed to turn flywheel clockwise, but for this you have to turn counter clockwise). Turn flywheel clockwise until indicator stops moving, then "0" indicator. rotate about 20 degrees more clockwise then rotate counter clockwise until indicator stops, should be at 0. Now rotate flywheel counter clockwise about 20 deg. then clockwise until the indicator reads .001 BEFORE 0. Scribe a line on flywheel in line with the timing pointer. Now move flywheel 20 degrees clockwise then counterclockwise until .001 BEFORE 0 degrees. Scribe line with pointer. You should now have 2 scribe marks on the flywheel. Inbetween those marks is ZERO degrees.<br /><br />Now this is all true IF your pointer is already calibrated to ZERO. If not you will use the above method to ZERO with one exception, you will adjust the pointer and use the timing marks on the flywheel.(turn clockwise to 1 deg. after TDC then c.c. until 1 deg. BTDC. When you can get the same reading on the indicator in both directions you will have found 0 degrees inbetween 1 plus and 1 minus).<br /><br />If you don't have an indicator, you can remove plugs, turn flywheel until piston reaches top, then mark flywheel at pointer with a chalk marker. That is a rough estimate of where 0 is though. From there you can measure the distance from 0 to 20 degrees on the timing marks then go to your mark and mark it that distance from 0. Now you have a mark for that cylinder set at 0 degrees and 20 BEFORE TOP DEAD CENTER(you will add your mark to the left of ZERO). Repeat this for the remaining cylinders.<br /><br />You now have 8 marks on flywheel in a bright color that is in strong contrast to the color of the flywheel.<br /><br />Stick timing light on #2 cylinder, start engine, shine light at pointer. You should see the mark you made on the flywheel and it should not flicker out of sequence or change where it's position is on the pointer.<br /><br />You may need to move your timing up by setting up the idle a bit to get the arm close to the stop.<br /><br />The second method will be good enough to check for spark. It will NOT be a true indicator of where those degrees are due to finding Top Dead Center can't be seen visually and needs proper equipment.
