setting timing belt

[Todd j]

Here is some back ground

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=226705

I need to reinstall my dist. I cant figure out how to put the flywheel and the dist/mag in the right relationship to get base timing.

The flywheel has a timing mark on it. The distributer gear plate has a line on it, but they never line up with each other. When the rotor points to the #1 cylinder the line on the gear plate on top of the dist points way off of #1. I been searching and found references to stuff that my motor does not have.

What is the proper procedure for synchronizing the distributer/mag with the flywheel/crankshaft?

TIA Todd

PS. I tried to detail the procedure I used, but I xcant type fast enough to post before I have to log in again, it all gets lost!

 

[Laddies]

Re: setting timing belt

It would help to know what your working on, in most case you should stick a screwdriver down # 1 cyl to make sure some genius hasn't taken the flywheel apart and put it together wrong, some engines have a pointer and some don't I don't know what yours has??? If it has a pointer it should line up if not the mark should be it line with the mag shaft and centerline of the crank at that point you remove the cover plate on the top of the mag drive pulley and you will find a arrow to line up with the flywheel marks the older the engine is the smaller the arrow is

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

as you requested(taken from provided link)
I have a 50 Hp merc SN 1855838, it is a 4 cylinder.

As far as the dist. goes.

Standing aft of the hull on the port side of the powerhead lookin at the mag housing there is a flange where the mag housing bolts to the distributer drive. That flange has a verticle line cast into it. when I turn the rotor to point to the wire labeled #1 on the cap it is inline with the keyway on top with the gear for the belt. At that point the rotor, keyway, and mark on the flange all line up on #1 cylinder. The line on the plate that sandwiched the belt and pulley down is pointing close to 90 degrees away from this keyway. Is this the arrow I see references too?

I used a dial indicator to find TDC. On my powerhead is stamped .200 BTDC. Do I at this point spin crank Counter clockwise .200" piston travel.

I might well be the genious that took the flywheel apart? I took it off, but there are no marks to index anything on it. There is no pointer or arrow, and the bolt pattern allows it to go on in a number of different ways. I looked the whole thing over and at no point did any 2 marks line up when I took things apart. Maybe I am making things harder than they need to be.

Hope this is a starting point?

Todd

 

[Laddies]

Re: setting timing belt

First check the index on the flywheel, the line on the flywheel should line up with the the centerline of the crankshaft and mag shaft. then remove the cover plate on the mag drive pulley' turn the pulley on the mag drive to aline with the center line of the crankshaft and install the coverplate on the mag pulley. If you have tinkered with the timing adjustment you will have to retime the engine.

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

I can only find 1 mark on the flywheel. It is a verticle mark on the edge of the flywheel. Is this the mark you are talking about? On my flywheel there is a sheet metal cover fastened down with phillips head screws. I am curious if there is a mark on that sheet metal ring and someone has takin it apart and put in on upside down. Is it worth taking a look?

Todd

 

[Laddies]

Re: setting timing belt

Todd, check your PMs I think that will help you

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Okay, that looks like good stuff. At this point is it safe to assume that the marks line up on #1 TDC. I am gonna go look now and see if I can find the mark on the dist. drive.

Thanks, Todd

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Found the mark on the dist. drive. Man is that a tiny booger! I repositioned crankshaft on #1TDC and MADE the flywheel mark line up. Gave it a couple spins by hand and the marks conitnue to be good. Still not able to start it?

It looks to me that when the arrow on the dist drive is pointed at the crankshaft centerline as described that the rotor is not at the #1 plug wire. Is this really the case or do I have things mixed up? Should the crank indeed be on #1 TDC?

Thanks, Todd

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Okay , this is worse than walking around for a week with a steering wheel in my pants!
I totally understand Laddies posts now. I have done everything to the letter. I tested my coil and put a spark tester downstream of the mag and tested everything up to the cylinders. The mag has major juice! The way I see it, there is NO way this thing can run when set up this way.

I am missing something?

I can list every reason why this thing cannot run.
I would rather some one just call me dumb@$$ and tell why it will?

Thanks, Todd

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Okay, I walked away from this deal about a month ago outta shear frustration. I started over fresh and did the deal like the literature said too. I finally got life from the little SOB. I did nothing different. The only thing I can figure is this: I put just a squirt of starter fluid in the carb to fire it off, and nothing happened. The most recent time around I squirted the plug hole and boom baby! I guess the throttle plates were not open enough to allow the stuff to really get where it was supposed to go?

I took the thing to the lake and could not cold start it without the aid of some starter fluid. Once warm it purred on every first pull. What would remedy that? Could it be the gas is too old? It is from late OCT.

Todd

 

[Laddies]

Re: setting timing belt

Todd, first never use starting fluid to start a outboard, It will destroy the engine if needed squirt it with so fuel mix. The problem with the engine now is it's just a little lean on startup, that can be many little things, lean idle mixture adjustment,dirty carbs, in the carbs the float levels can be low or the idle pickup tube are partially plugged. Also before removing the carbs make sure the chokes are closing and against the carb bodies.

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Okay!, My next step will be to replace the squeeze bulb. It really never got firmed up. I suspect it has gone haywire? This might well cause low fuel level in the float boals? I did a total overhaul on the carbs prior to the points going away. New needles and seats, gaskets, and floats. I have to guess that the mixture is good, and the chokes are working properly because the time it died it started cold with 5-6 pulls. The time before that it started cold with one pull. Having the jet drive makes it painful to trouble shoot at home, so I gotta plan trips to water after each adjustment.

Thanks for the tips, Todd

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: setting timing belt

Did you confirm that the mark on the flywheel is correct to TDC. By pulling top spark plug and watching the piston. At T op D ead C enter the piston should be at the top of it's travel.

If not it could either have a broken key, or have had someone remove the number of bolts holding the flywheel "together" and not replaced correctly.


Ignition wires installed on correct plugs.

Beyond that, an old trigger style oil can with 50:1 and a squirt or two in eack plug hole (then replace plus and wire) should light it up enough to move on to fuel issues.

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Used a dial indicator to find #1 tdc.

I am convinced the flywheel was/is not set where the mark should be in relation to something. It can go wherever it wants depending on how it is bolted to the flywheel hub? At least now the dist/mag is in sync with the flywheel.

Correct plug wiring.

Fuel issue is first/next on my short list!

Thanks again all. I will post results!!

Todd

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: setting timing belt

If you have found the mark to be in it's correct location (pointing towards the magneto/dist shaft)when at TDC on #1 then that is good.

 

[Laddies]

Re: setting timing belt

Todd, didn't I PM you the pages on timing and synchronization from the Mercury manual about 3 weeks ago? That should cover all the problem's you seem to be having timing your engine it even has pictures of the timing marks at TDC. and also of the synchronization of the engine.

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Okay. Thanks for hanging in there all! You Laddies have gone above and beyond and I thank you. You did send me a page of literature back in Nov. I just tore into the Merc and the timing marks on the flywheel and the dist drive were as you described they should be. My apologies for posting when I couldnt really remember what I did. I will button it up and try tommorow with a new squeeze bulb and see how that goes.

The timing has not changed since all this started. My gut says it is fuel related, we will see.

I sincerely thank you all for putting up with my ignorance and lack of ability to follow (what now Are) simple, straight forward instructions.

Todd

 

[Todd j]

Re: setting timing belt

Fresh gas, 2 pulls and I put this to bed.

Thanks all!
Todd