Major Mistake?????

I was installing my new Pertronix electronic ignition last night and went to great lengths to mark the distributor in several spots as to make sure it went right back in the same way. Not once did I think to mark the rotor and now that I have realized my mistake I don't know how to fix it.

I've read my service manual several times and can not find anything that talks about how to make sure that I get everything lined up in the right spot?

 

if you have your motor at tdc on compression stroke number one cyl.. look how your cap goes on, some of the caps are marked and have the numbers for the cylinders on them. line your rotor up with number one tower, and you should be close enuf to get it timed right.... hope this helps

 

Doesn't your rotor have a small square peg and small round peg? It should go right back on.

 

I want to clarify TDC is when I have the timing mark on the vibration damper and the zero mark on the timing indicator?

It isn't getting my rotor on that is the problem but making sure that it is turned to the correct spot for the associated firing order.

 

TDC is when number one piston is on its compression stroke. For example. If your timing mark on the vibration dampener is lined up. You could be on the compression stroke or 180 degrees off. To find out. Take out the spark plug on number one cylinder. Rotate the motor with you finger over the hole. If you feel pressure coming out of the hole when the mark lines up. Your there.

 

Ok I'm starting to feel a lot better I feel confident that I've figured out where on my distributor that the number 1 firing spot is in conjunction to my rotor. Now I need to get my motor to TDC and slide it in from there. I was told it is ok to bump the starter to get the motor around to the #1 cylinder with the distributor out. I wanted to make sure that is true. Once I get it close I will feel for the pressure coming when I rotate the motor by hand. If the timing marks line up and the pressure is going in do I obviously rotate it 180 degrees?

Once I get it to what I feel is TDC I slip the distributor in place put the cap and wires on and fire it up will I know immediately if I've got it wrong? And if I do have something wrong would flopping my rotor 180 degrees be the next step?

Last question, for now anyways, I do not have a tachometer is there a good way to set the timing other then by ear and my timing light?

 

On this first statement. If it is 180 degrees out and not on the compression stroke, you will feel no pressure.

2nd. Yes. You will know when you try to start it. It wont start.

3rd. You can get away without a tachometer, but you do need a timing light.

 

If it's an f-head, the distributor will only go in one way. The tab on the bottom is offset. If not an f-head, all the above also applies.

 

He has the o.f. 225

 

it may take a few times to start mine took a couple mins. and when it did start it was real rough. if it is turn the dist a bit to smooth it out, then get your timing light out to fine tune it. two people helps ...also when you put the dist in turn the rotor button back about 1/2 inch or less. because when you put the new dist in it is goin to turn because of the gears sliding into place. just a bit of FYI. hope this helps.

 

Don't forget to make sure that your oil pump is lined up with the end of the distributor shaft when you install it.

 

Regarding bumping the motor with the starter - you're trying to get it to stop at TDC so that would be pretty hard to do with the starter. Just put a socket on the crank bolt and turn if over by hand.

 

Report back I bumped the motor close to top dead center then put a socket on the crank bolt and got it correct dropped the distributor down in place gapped my plugs and it fired right up. Now I have to get the timing set and the carburetor adjusted and I'm optimistic that it will be running great and hopefully have done away with the dead spot I had in my RPM curve.

Thanks for all your help.

 

Glad to hear.