Hey guys im trying to set my tdc to put my plug wires on my new motor and i have no idea where 0 is on balancer. It is not marked with "0" or "tdc" or anything. I did notice there is a dot on the back of the balancer (block side) close to the middle of the timing lines. Here is a pic i drew up real quick of how my balancer looks. Where is 0?

 

What balancer are you using?

 

That's a pretty good drawing. Those lines there? All the ones bunched up? It's the big one on the TOP right.

When you put it on the motor, if you're at TDC, the number one piston should be up at the top, (duh), the keyway on the crank should be pointing towards the number one piston. Then the balancer will go on, and your 0* mark should be lined up with your timing pointer. Something like this probably
https://webdisk.ucalgary.ca/~jmknopp...tml/engine.jpg

 

Apeiron im not sure what kind of balancer it is, my engine builder put it on and it was a used part so im not sure.

Sonix i was thinking it was the middle big line in the bunch but ill take your word for it. Are all balancers the same as far as where the 0 is at on the timing marks?

 

TDC shouldnt be anywhere near the center of the marks!

It SHOULD be the mark the farthest towards the drivers side of the car....

 

Ok now im confussed lol should tdc be number 1 or 2?

 

Looking at it from the front of the car its the mark furthest to the Right/drivers side/clockwise/#2

It might even be the longer line a little more clockwise from #2

 

On the pic sonix posted he has it set the opposite way, as in #1 in the pic would be tdc. I don't think it is the line clockwise from #2, because there are 4 of them evenly spaced around the balancer. This has me stumped.

 

That would mean the markings are degrees ATDC, which doesn't make much sense.

 

Oh chit!

Sorry, im thinking completely backwards...


Apeiron is right, that would leave the advance markings ATDC. #1 would be TDC and then the degree markings would be BTDC.

(Works better when you picture it in you mind with the crank spinning the CORRECT direction )

 

Alright, here is a pic of my harmonic balancer. I looked at my buddies and his tdc is the second big mark on the balancer. Anyways, you can see it has no numbers just some writing before the timing marks (B-H-J, w/e that means). Right now it is inbetween the exhaust and intake stroke (the exhaust just closed and the intake will open if i continue to crank it over by hand) Does it need to go another 180*? Is it set on the correct mark for TDC?

 

Looks like you're at TDC on the exhaust stroke right now.

The first marking on the left seems to be TDC, and each mark to the right is one degree BTDC.