Timing the engine

[andy6374]

Merc 88' 200 V6

I don't have the timing pointer on the flywheel anymore (got lost) but the flywheel still has the degree tick marks. So I was hoping I could do the following:

-get a dial gauge with a magnetic base and find TDC on cylinder #1.
- Then make a mark on the block right under the 0 degree tick on the flywheel. This should tell me when the #1 cylinder is at top dead center.
-Then align my timing light with the mark on the block and use this as my guide for setting the timing.
-Then just follow my merc manual for normal lync&sync.

The only downfall to the method I can forsee is that I am not using the .462 timing tick method that merc recommends (anybody who has a merc has read this in the manual).

What do you guru's think???

 

[Laddies]

Re: Timing the engine

Andy the reason for the .462 mark is on the flywheel is it is more accurate to mark than TDC if you mark the engine at ,462 then the TDC mark on the flywheel should come in at TDC on the engine also, if you did not have a dial indicater the process that you decribed is fine the .462 mark only establishs the mark more accurately because of rod throw

 

[andy6374]

Re: Timing the engine

if you did not have a dial indicater the process that you decribed is fine the .

You mean the timing pointer, right. I have a Dail indciator for findind TDC or .462

I'll try doing it , aligning things with the .462 mark. I won't be doing for a couple of weeks because my Mako project isn't completely finished yet, but I've been thinking about how to do it. Thanks for letting me know the method I described above is ok as well as for the explanation of the .462 tick.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Timing the engine

Yup, a mark on the block will work in place of the pointer

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Timing the engine

the .462 is NOT TDC.
its the actual position of the fireing of the ign.
make your TDC reference on the block then you can use the .462 method or use the circumference and math method to determine where you wish to have your advance.
its niether hoodoo nor voodoo. its simply where the ign sparks in relation to where the piston is.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Timing the engine

Rodbolt, if you read a manual you would know that the .462 mark is not the timing mark, but a mark on the flywheel to justify the timing pointer, as at TDC there is several degrees of rotation without the indicator moving, so Mercury but the .462 mark on the flywheel to give a more percise way to adjust the timing pointer before timing the engine. Just like one does not center line a cam on a 4 stroke at TDC