TDC

Hi.
I'm adjusting the valves...
If I have no rotor arm in the distributor to line up. is the notch on the crankshaft pulley lining up with cracking in crankcase exact enough to mark top dead centre?

 

Yes, every other rotation. IIRC the slot for the rotor arm in the distributor shaft is opposite to where the rotor arm would be pointing.

 

Just found, understood I have to make sure I'm at TDC for no 1 cylinder before beginning not assume it is...
So if I rock the crankshaft pulley to see if no 1 valve is opening or not that's then the begin g of the sequence...right?

 

Put the notch at top. Both rockers on no.1 should be loose (gapped). If not, turn it one rev so notch is back at the top and try again. This piston gets to the top twice, once when exhaust has been expelled, once when mixture is compressed. It's the compressed one you want, both vavles shut.

 

Aghh! tried 3 times today...it sounds like a tin of nails when I start her..what am I doing wrong?

 

Rotate anti-clockwise when doing the valves and do

Get tdc on number 1, set both

Half a turn anti clockwise set both on number. 2 and so on

 

If it is running but badly, are the spark plug leads in the correct order.? They cross over on the way to #1 and #2 and do not going to #3 and #4.

If you really are not sure about TDC take out the #1 spark plug and feel it with a stick or a screwdriver.
If your pulley only has one notch then it may be one of three different stock timings for the notch dependent on which engine it was put on first . So find TDC and look where the notch is.
If it has two or three notches then the 7.5 degree one is the second from the left.
According to my book of engines.

 

How are you starting it with no rotor arm?
Which engine is it?

 

@zedders description is good and as simple as it gets .
The important bit to remember is as you set each clearance the piston must be on the firing stroke at TDC , i.e - both valves are closed and the gap between the rocker and valve (clearance) can be set .
If you`re not sure about the piston being on the firing stroke turn the pulley a few inches either way . The rockers for the cylinder you are setting shouldn`t be moving ...

Good luck - think simply

 

Not doing them in sync with the engine.

 

When I feel with a stick what should I feel for?

 

Standard 1600 with electronic ignition

 

So when I rock the crankshaft at tdc the rockers for no 1 cylinder shouldn't move?

 

Thanks for everyone's help so far...I'm learning.

 

Depends how far you're rocking it . With the cylinder you're interested in at TDC on the compression stroke, you should be able to waggle both rockers by hand.

 

That is very helpful ..

 

Correct - a couple of inches each side of TDC on the pulley and BOTH rockers for the cylinder you`re setting shouldn`t
move .

Getting there

 

You should be able to rotate the pulley approx 45 degs each way?

 

Ok. I'll try again tomorrow with my new advice from you folks in the know. thanks. let you know how I get on 4th time round.