Timing Mark

[CJHenderson]

Getting ready to replace head gasket and before doing that I set the #1 cylinder to TDC. When checking the timing mark it was on top of 50 Degrees. Is this normal?

[stickandrudderman]

No. with No.1 piston at TDC the pointer should be at "0".
I have seen a few episodes of incompetent installation of the crankshaft pully/damper assembly where the keys are not aligned during incompetent assembly.

[mrfatboy]

A couple of thing to check.

Make sure you have the correct pointer with timing marks mounted. I think there are types. There is a trapezoid and a triangular type. Info is in tech manual.

Make sure you are looking at the correct timing marks. There are outer and inner markings.

[CJHenderson]

I'm looking at the inner ring

[kampala]

Are you sure you are on the compression stroke?   And not exhaust stroke?   Is the distributor rotor pointed to plug wire for cylinder # 1.

if you provide photos it would help.

[CJHenderson]

Looks like I was on the exhaust stroke so I turned it 180. Here is two photos showing the distributor aligned to the timing mark and the pointer close to TDC pip. When I put the pointer on the pip the distributor looks like it's about 20 degree ATDC.

[ja17]

Watch to see when the points open as you turn the engine in the normal direction. Set it so the points opening is close to TDC "0".  This should be good enough to get it running. Then set it about 30 BTDC at 3,000 rpms.

[CJHenderson]

Great thanks