Engine 180 degrees out?

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by WillP, Mar 23, 2016.

  1. slightly weird but just gone to set the valve clearances and fit an accuspark svda distributor.

    Fitted the distributor first, engine at tdc on cylinder number one. Fired it up, nothing but cranking and huge misfire, not even close to actually running, and defo not what I was expecting from the reviews/vids on YouTube. Got bored of trying to figure that out so to get some feeling of achievement went to set the valve clearances, with no 1 cylinder at the top of the stroke (took the spark plug out and put a large cable tie inside to double check) the rockers on number 1 were solid no movement at all. But the valves on cylinder no. 3 seemed to have equal play with pretty much bob on 0.006 clearance. Seems really weird and almost like the engine is 180 degrees out (if that's a thing?). Been trying to get hold of the guy that built the engine but no joy today, anyone come across this before? Is this a thing?!
     
  2. undo engine ,rotate a full circle ,that should fix it...:thumbsup:
     
    Flakey, Zed and MorkC68 like this.
  3. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Assume you had non svda before? If yes the leads need shifting round one hop and you went the wrong way.
     
  4. What zed said, just replaced my 009 with svda. No.1 lead was at 4 o'clock as you look at dissy with the009, now it's at 1 0'clock if that makes sense?
     
    Barneyrubble likes this.
  5. Yeah went from 009 to svda. I noticed that at tdc on no1 the rotor arm was 90 different, with the svda rotor actually pointing at no1 cylinder now it's not running, not even close.

    The leads are all off now so I'll be starting from scratch which is why I was trying to find tdc on cylinder no 1 and move on to set valve clearances. Any reason why valves on no 1 would be tight and valves on 3 at the correct valve clearance? That make sense?...didn't think so!
     
  6. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    The engine turns 2x for each turn of the distributor. There are 2 tdc, you have wrong one, turn engine pulley one complete turn then set no 1.
     
    Razzyh likes this.
  7. Ok done that, but now the Piston is at the bottom of its stroke rather than the top, I thought the piston need to be at the top, I.e. My cable tie sticking out the furthest point?

    On valve clearances... With the piston at the bottom of the stroke on TDC the valve clearances on cylinder one are correct at 0.006. This correct? I thought the valve clearances needed to be done with the cylinder at the top of the stroke? Have I just got the ars e about face?
     
  8. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Where'the timing mark? You need to get your bearings, start again.
    Get pulley timing mark at the top and try 1 & 3 again.
    Once you have it so timing mark is at top and no.1 valves are ready to set rather than no.3, wherever the rotor points is where no1 lead goes.
     
  9. what year is your bus , pulley marks do you have too ??
     
  10. [​IMG]

    Not the best photo and a crap pulley
     
  11. Here's my "plate", fitted inside the engine lid for quick reference. At TDC the distributor drive offset "slot" should be nearest to, and parallel to, the rear bumper when the rotor arm is pointing to number 1 cylinder. Any help?

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2016
    brothernumberone and Lasty like this.
  12. What dizzy are you running?
     
  13. It's a 73 late bay but engine is new build 1776 type 1 engine
     
  14. Vacuum advance
     
  15. Ok so, when the valves on cylinder one are ready to set the piston is at the bottom of its stroke. I thought that the piston needed to be at the top of its stroke so that when the rotor arm comes round to make the connection and spark the piston is then pushed from top to bottom?
     
  16. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    You are mistaken. It can not be at the bottom.
     
  17. [​IMG]

    This what the distributor key is doing when it's at tdc with piston at top of the cylinder 1
     
  18. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    You are confusing yourself somewhere. The tdc mark on the pulley - got a pic?
     

  19. Dont worry what the distributor drive is doing mate, if someone has rebuilt the engine it could be wrong but does not matter, get your timing back to tdc and no1 piston at top, if 1 rockers are still tight turn the crankshaft 360 degrees ie. 1 full turn. Now try no 1 rockers. they should now be loose. Set your timing to no1 now wherever the rotor arm points
     

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