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Need help with balancer timing marks

Bad66GT

Bad66GT

Banned :)
Donator
@PSIG and others. My ProFlow wants this. 12 degrees BTDC.

Unfortunately my balancer, Ford Racing M-6316-C351 only has TDC. No markings before.

IMG_9089.png​


I currently have it at 0 degree TDC. I don’t think I’ll have an issue starting it but want to get it dialed in correctly.

Any help is appreciated. :)

Chris
 
FIRST, establish absolute, true, TDC using a "Piston Stop Tool". Mark the balancer appropriately. If you're "lucky" it'll match the TDC mark already there. Next, determine your balancer's circumference at the timing scale. For example, if your balancer is 6-3/8 inches in diameter, the circumference will be Pi (3.1415926) times the radius (3-3/16 inch) squared (10.16015625) then divide by the number of degrees in a circle (360) and multiply times the desired advance (12) to obtain a measurement of .338671875 inch. Since the crankshaft rotates CCW (looking from the front), timing advance would ALSO be in that same direction, so measure 11/32 inch in that direction from "TRUE TDC" and scribe/paint a mark there.
 
Looking at it from the front isn't the balancer spinning clockwise? If the woodruff key locks the balancer at the crank how can TDC be off? I thought that one was dummy proof. Timing light blinks on #1 spark, shows on the balancer where your crank/piston is. I get that is is rudimentary, so bear with me if I have all that wrong
 
Master Hack said:
Looking at it from the front isn't the balancer spinning clockwise? If the woodruff key locks the balancer at the crank how can TDC be off? I thought that one was dummy proof. Timing light blinks on #1 spark, shows on the balancer where your crank/piston is. I get that is is rudimentary, so bear with me if I have all that wrong
Click to expand...
It is clockwise....I had to think it through and once I started it, it was verified. :) So my 12 on my balancer is 12 degree BTDC. :)

Chris
 
Master Hack said:
Looking at it from the front isn't the balancer spinning clockwise? If the woodruff key locks the balancer at the crank how can TDC be off? I thought that one was dummy proof. Timing light blinks on #1 spark, shows on the balancer where your crank/piston is. I get that is is rudimentary, so bear with me if I have all that wrong
Click to expand...

Balancer be machined a little off, marks be in wrong place, pointer could be off, key way on crank machined off.
 
I would assume that any facility capable of machining to thousandths of an inch would be able to nail that! But I guess it's always better to verify. I mean even with the timing light. once it is spinning 3,000 rpm the actual point in time is subject to the viewer. I used my phone to make a video, then paused it on the exact flash event. Just for my own edification, but in the combustion cycle what's 1 degree either way
 
Master Hack said:
I would assume that any facility capable of machining to thousandths of an inch would be able to nail that! But I guess it's always better to verify. I mean even with the timing light. once it is spinning 3,000 rpm the actual point in time is subject to the viewer. I used my phone to make a video, then paused it on the exact flash event. Just for my own edification, but in the combustion cycle what's 1 degree either way
Click to expand...

It's called tolerance stack, balancer off a few thousandths, marks off a hair, crank key way off a few thousands, pointer bent or cast off just a hair. Its the reason we degree cams, and don't just take them to be correct when installed. On facebook one guy posted that a new BTR cam he just bought had a miss machined area where the cam shaft retaining plate went and the plate couldn't be installed. Stuff happens all the time.
 
Ive rebuilt quite a few motors, but none of them had a spark distribution system so thanks for not chastising my ignorance.
 
Use piston stop. Rotate one direction till bind , mark it on balancer. Then rotate it other direction till bind , mark also on balancer . The middle of those two marks is absolute TDC . Calculate circumference and find a timing tape decal to put on your balancer. Like from MSD.
 
Master Hack said:
I would assume that any facility capable of machining to thousandths of an inch would be able to nail that! But I guess it's always better to verify. I mean even with the timing light. once it is spinning 3,000 rpm the actual point in time is subject to the viewer. I used my phone to make a video, then paused it on the exact flash event. Just for my own edification, but in the combustion cycle what's 1 degree either way
Click to expand...
Don't forget that the balancer is two pieces and with each degree on an average balancer reflecting only around .036" in distance around the balancer it's not hard to be "off".
 
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