Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

timing marks look weird

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 1, 2011 | 08:24 PM
  #1  
doinfroggy's Avatar
doinfroggy
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
timing marks look weird

i just installed my new comp cam 32-255-5, new lifters, new timing chain. the heads were off during this install.. cam gear timing mark was at 6 o'clock and the crank gear was at 12 o'clock. cylinder #1 was at TDC. well i put the timing cover on and put the balancer on. well the timing mark indicator lined up with 12 degrees ATDC. i thought that it was suppose to be at 10 or 12 degrees btdc. so i stripped it back down, rotated everything a million times, then reset the timing marks again and it still comes up as 12 degrees ATDC. Could this just be a case of BENT timing mark indicator? or something else
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2011 | 02:53 PM
  #2  
drjoe171's Avatar
drjoe171
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
There are a few of us on here that have had
the harmonic balancer/crank pulley slips around so NOthing lines up.

I had tried to time mine using the coil wire and then realized the pulley had slipped. since even THAT didn't line up with anything.

What most of us have done is to put a plastic drinking straw
in the #1 cylinder to make sure #1 is at TDC and guess from there.

I hope your prob is something silly and simple and easily fixed.

Some have also cleaned their pulley to find a hidden
strip of hash marks showing degrees.
(mine doesn't happen to have one however)
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2011 | 05:10 PM
  #3  
lew52's Avatar
lew52
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
If your balancer slipped it needs to be replaced , driving it like that is not good for the motor , it will usally throw off the balance of the crank shaft....Lew
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2011 | 07:38 PM
  #4  
doinfroggy's Avatar
doinfroggy
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
well, i started the motor, pulled the plug and set the timing to 10 degrees BTDC. this thing purrs like a kitten. when it is cold, it is a little hard to start but idle is great. is it possible for the balancer to slip and have no visible signs???
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 09:24 AM
  #5  
lew52's Avatar
lew52
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
Yes they can slip and still look ok , have a look at the rubber between the balancer , when they get real bad you will notice a vibration and the crank pulley may wobble.....
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 01:10 PM
  #6  
Conanski's Avatar
Conanski
FTE Legend
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Builder
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by doinfroggy
well, i started the motor, pulled the plug and set the timing to 10 degrees BTDC.
Problem with that is your motor is actually 22 degrees advanced now when you factor in the amount the timing marks are off, and that is why it's hard to start. If you back it down to 0 on the balancer you'll have about 12deg advance which is what you should be targeting.
I agree the balancer should be repalced as well because it will continue to slip even further.
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2011 | 08:32 PM
  #7  
doinfroggy's Avatar
doinfroggy
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
once again i will thank you for the help. i will order a balancer ASAP
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2011 | 09:57 PM
  #8  
doinfroggy's Avatar
doinfroggy
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
got the balancer in, put it on with no change. My dad came over today and we started trying to fine the problem. put the vacuum gauge on and it was reading 12-14 hg and bouncing. after a moment of being pissed, i said lets try something. pulled the timing spout out, hooked up the timing gun, left the vacuum gauge hooked up and proceeded to play with the timing. one a previous post i was informed that a bad vacuum could also come from improper timing. i turned the distributor to where it read 20 degrees BTDC, the vacuum picked up to 16 and holds almost steady, the truck idles with no problem, starts with no problem.. so something in my timing is off. i dont have any clue what it could be. i set the timing 5 times before i put the heads and timing chain on to make sure they were lined up perfectly. i guess maybe it is possible for me to screw up somewhere but where?? is it ok to keep driving like this?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 11, 2011 | 06:04 AM
  #9  
lew52's Avatar
lew52
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
Your sure your reading the timing from the number 1 cly passenger side front , the key way is in the crank and not damaged , are you reading it from the right spot on the pointer , what year motor is this and is it a 302 or 351....
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2011 | 08:42 PM
  #10  
doinfroggy's Avatar
doinfroggy
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
it is a 351w. i am reading from the cylinder 1 passenger side front. i checked the key way and there is no issue with it. to the bes of my knowledge, there is one place to check the timing mark on the pointer. with the timing gun going, the number "stands still" on the outer edge if the pointer.
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2011 | 01:36 PM
  #11  
outdoorfan's Avatar
outdoorfan
Senior User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
I'm bringing this back up because I didn't/don't understand what's happening in my '95 302. It is new to me, and I recently checked the timing. I made sure the marks on the harmonic balancer were plenty legible before hooking up the timing light to the #1 cylinder (with the spout out). Instead of seeing the marks on the pulley (when the timing light is on), all I see is the 3/16" (or so) indent that's on the backside of the pulley (backside of the timing marks). The indent is what's lined up with the timing pointer.

From what I now understand from reading this thread, the pulley can slip. I don't understand how when there's supposed to be a key that holds it in, right? I haven't had it off at all yet to verify.

I advanced timing about 3 degrees (3/16") from where it was set, and the gas mileage (pulling trailer) went from 12 to 12.8. There's no detonation that I can hear. The idle went up a bit and is now around 850-900 rpm when the engine is warm. I would like to know what the timing is actually at, but it looks like I'll need a new pulley to figure that out.

Any comments?
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hvymtlauto
Modular V8 (4.6L, 5.4L)
2
Apr 1, 2022 11:57 AM
Jasonf150
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
15
Apr 16, 2016 07:02 PM
John Keith
Modular V8 (4.6L, 5.4L)
0
Mar 10, 2016 11:01 PM
Rigby
New Member Introductions
4
Jul 7, 2015 12:41 PM
desertrat55
1966 - 1977 Early Broncos
13
Aug 9, 2014 06:23 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:38 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE