I just had a new timing chain put on my engine, and after it was running again, the shop went to set the ignition timing. But the notch on the harmonic balancer was nowhere near the indicator on the timing cover.

I know the balancer was put on right, I was watching as the mechanic installed it. I'm guessing the weight shifted. It's still centered, no forward or backward movement, no rubber sticking out. It just shifted.

How would I go about making a new mark on it so I can set the timing? I'm guessing what I would have to do is take the spark plug out of the No. 1 cylinder and rotate the crankshaft until the piston is completely up, at which point, I would make a mark at the 0 notch on the timing indicator. Is that pretty much it?

 

Was the timing tab/cover or the dampener replaced? Theres a couple different styles with the mark being in different places over the years.

A piston stop tool is used sort of like that, but not quite. Rotate until the piston hits the stop, mark it, turn in the other direction until it hits, mark it, then your real mark is halfway between.

 

No, it was the same cover that was on there before.

A piston stop sounds like a good idea. Now I just gotta figure out how to get or make one.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-4795/

or modify a spark plug to do the same job

I would make a new mark on the balancer ( paint) ; then you still have the correct scale on the tab to use.If your new mark is too far one way on the tab you will have nothing to set timing by

 

you can buy timing marks for like 5 bucks at auto parts,they bolt on top of the timing cover,all yuo need to knows is if you have a 7 or 8 inch balancer,should be 7

 

Won't help if the mark on the balancer has shifted

 

AFAIK there are 2 balancer types, an older one with the mark pointing straight up at 1 tdc, and a later one with the mark pointing 1:30 to line up with the centreline of no 1, at tdc.

Use the piston stop method to find which you have - probably the later one. If the balancer is not pointing to one of these positions, odds on it's slipped and should probably be replaced.

Re-mark the balancer as mentioned above, not the pointer - use the zero mark as your reference point.

I had a 1:30 balancer and a 12:00 timing cover when I bought my car. I replaced the cover and tab, found true tdc, ended up with a 2 degree mismatch. I re-marked the balancer (used timing tape), all good since.

 

I timed this engine before with this balancer. I know it's shifted. I'll probably look at a replacement down the line when I get some money together. I really need to look for the receipt, It might still be under warranty. But anyway, in the mean time, I'm just gonna mark it. I don't think it's gonna fly off any time soon.

 

wouldnt it be time for a new one then

 

Marking a sheared balancer is an effort in futility. Pointlessness. Absurdity. Fruitlessness. Etc.

 

Since you'd usually (always? every time I've done it at least) have the engine at tdc while installing the chain, the mechanic should've noticed that the mark was way off, and looked into why. Either "I should make sure I did this right so I dont mess up the guys engine" or "hey maybe I can charge him for a new balancer too".

I've found like-new ones for twenty dollars, I'm sure you could too.

 

You can't see the marks while installing the chain ( timing cover off ) and as the balancer is keyed and only fits in one position there is no need to have engine at TDC when installing balancer so if engine was rotated before installing the balancer problem could easily be missed.

 

Welp, I went ahead and made new marks on the balancer. I made one of those piston stops out of a spark plug, and while I was feeling creative, I borrowed this welder that I found, and made one of those distributor wrenches. The timing marks remained stationary long enough to time the ignition.

She runs pretty good now. Hesitates when coming out of a stop though. It idles real low after opening the throttle. I had her running as low as 450 rpm without stalling. I think I may need to clean out my IAC again and maybe adjust my TPS.

 

better change that bad balancer tho because youll trash your bottom end if things get worse

 

I'll keep an eye on it. I think it may still be under warranty. I can't find the receipt, but I'm fairly certain that it isn't a year old. I'm going to the parts store tomorrow for a break cylinder, and I'll ask the guy when I got it.