Timing

[Austin]

I was wondering if anyone has some pointers with timing. I got the motor back from the shop. The points gap is set and the distributor is locked in. The rotator is on the #1 cylinder. I understand that I go counter clockwise in the fireing order. What do I do with the fly wheel and the marks on it.

[1955CJ-5]

You need to find Top Dead Center (TDC) on #1 piston. To do this you can remove the spark plugs and turn the engine while visually checking #1 piston. When #1 is all the way up, look at the timing marks on the flywheel through the little hole under the starter.

You must verify that you have TDC on #1 on the compression stroke....

To verify that you have TDC at #1 on compression you should feel some air pressure if you hold your finger over the #1 spark plug hole while turning the engine. You will need to do this as it's also possible to see the flywheel marks if you are at the top of the exhaust stroke on #1

Align the IGN line on the flywheel with the line on the rear engine plate..it may also be marked 5� as mine is.

With that aligned, you loosen the distributor and rotate the housing until the points just begin to open. If you have power to the points you can use a voltmeter or if the voltmeter has a continuity function you can use that..

When the points just open the rotor should then be pointing to #1 plug wire, at about 5 O'clock on the distributor. Tighten the distributor pinch clamp and the add the rest of the plug wires.

I think that's it.....I hope I didn't miss anything..it's easier to do than to describe!

[athawk11]

Excellent direction Randy!

I will add...don't freak out if the rotor isn't pointing at 5 o'clock.  If it isn't, the oil pump wasn't indexed correctly.  You can still time the engine. 

For example:  If after following the above direction, and you find the rotor pointing at 11 o'clock on the distributor, this is where you will connect the #1 spark plug wire followed by #3 wire at 8 o'clock, #4 wire at 5 o'clock, and finally, #2 wire connected at 2 o'clock.

Tim

[1955CJ-5]

Thanks for looking in Tim.....doing it is one thing...trying to s'plain it is another!

[Austin]

Thanks! That was a very clear explanation. I hope to have it running later on today.