Tdc

[2bits]

OK, I just dropped in a freshly rebuilt 250 with a 292 head and I am trying to find TDC, to stab the dizzy, but I drop a cloth in the #1 cylinder and every time I bump the starter the thing flies out so that's not guiding me like it has in the past. I am wondering if I just watch the cylinder through the hole (I can see clearly) and when the piston is at the top and the timing marker hits at the timing mark, I should be right on or 180 off right? Anyone had this problem? Any other suggestions? The last time I did this it would wait until it was on the right stroke and then pop out, but now it pops right out every bump! Maybe my starter turns too fast?

[72armyswbtruck]

Can you get someone to put their thumb over the #1 hole? If not the just bump the ignition until you get close and then turn manually, sometimes you can cheat by taking the valve cover off and looking at the push rods and rockers.

[PanelDeland]

Time to buy a remote start switch or make one.You can have the thumb over the hole and bump your own starter.Or pull the valve cover and bump it until both valves are closed and solid on their seats.There is a write up on this in the classic trucks mag i got yester day/I think,I don't always get the mail on the day it comes my wife sometimes has to be asked"Haven't I got any car mags lately?"

[Gray Ghost]

Good idea...never thought of that one. He's got a remote starter, but we were both wondering how you turn a 250 manually when there's no center crank bolt?

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by Buffalo Elk

Good idea...never thought of that one. He's got a remote starter, but we were both wondering how you turn a 250 manually when there's no center crank bolt?

You need one of those flywheel/flexplate turner tool things. X2 on the remote starter switch, makes this job much easier...

[prg machine]

Put your thumb over the spark plug hole and turn it over slowly. When you feel it suck it is on the intake down stroke and will come back up, you feel the pressure......then look for your timing mark on the damper............it will be coming up. Simple.

[cdowns]

if you wrap a strap around the balancer then cinch it tight with large vise grips its easy to turn the motor over by hand to get an accurate TDC position
also putting bolts in pulley holes and using a lever bar to turn engine over is another easy way to turn over by hand

either way its easier with all sparkplugs removed

[68gmsee]

I always remove all of the sparkplugs to make it easier to turn.

Several ways I've done it by myself. First, a remote starter helps tremendously to get it almost "there."

Then on a manual trans and if you're able to, I've put it in gear an slightly pushed on the truck to get the piston where I want it.

I've also tightened the fan belt by pushing or pulling on it and turned the engine over that way. It's not the easiest way but it will work for small increments.

The last method I've done is the way cdowns mentioned with a rubber strap.

Now, I've had the crankshaft drilled and tapped for ease of installation on the next overhaul.

[Gray Ghost]

Cool solutions...I like the crank drilled idea. We didn't wind up messing with that today at all did we Thomas?

[2bits]

Yah, I have a remote starter and no plugs in it. One thing does comes to mind that before I had tightened the belts and it was easy to turn that way, no wonder everything seems to be moving faster now, I was using the start this time! I am going to tighten up the belts and do it that way today since that worked for me before. Wow, new engine and new frame all in the same day! Too bad I have to wait for the drive shaft before I can drive it!