harmonic balancer - mark at 40 deg btdc at TDC???
 

Just bought a '94 cobra....harmonic balancer has been replaced recently by previous owner. I was trying to install a new distributor and following how-to:

1) I pulled #1 plug and cranked in a clockwise direction on the balancer bolt.
2) when I felt compression in cyl 1, I watched the dist rotor and when the rotor was at #1 mark on dist, it was at 40 degrees on the balancer????

I repeated this several times - cranked the engine over twice with the breaker bar (by twice, I watched the dist rotor rotate 2x around....I think that's correct....) to again align to TDC and same result. I also checked it at 1x around (in case i was off.....) and it was also at 40 degrees. It is aligned at 40, though....so I *could* use 40 as my zero mark and I do have a degree timing light.

Anyone experience this before? My last car that used a distributor and needed to be timed was my '69 camaro z28 (bought in 70's and sold in 70's), so this is a learning experience for me......

I'm reasonably sure I'm doing things right, but could be noob mistake, or can the balancer be simply installed wrong and be off that much? My understanding is that at TDC on the harmonic balancer, the rotor should be pointing at #1 sparkplug rotor location, but mine is more like the following ( How To: Properly stab your distributor. - MustangForums.com - first pic that says "this is incorrect"). Right now, car runs fine, so looking for answers/suggestions before I delve into this further.

Is the car not starting?

Let the piston come to the top of the compression stroke then install the distributor to where it is pointing at number one. The balancer should be around 0 if it hasn't slipped. I ususally try to get it at 10 degrees on the install. Looking at the engine from the front of the car, number 1 should be somewhere around 10 or 10:30 if using a clock for reference.

Next time you take the distributor out, find an intake bolt or plenum bolt or something that number one is pointed towards so you remember where it goes.

so I am not crazy...
 

when the distributor rotor points to #1, the harmonic balancer should be at 0......if that's true, then I think the balancer has either slipped or was not installed correctly - since the balancer is keyed, is this possible? That's what has me confused. Are there mutiple slots on the balancer normally where it could have been put in the wrong slot?

Only goes on with keyway. One way that is it. Outer ring has slipped on dampner.

inspect the rubber if it sticks out anywhere it has slipped! thats the only way you could be getting your result if the car is running and running correctly! but to have slipped 40* you should be having other issues!

It is possible you have the wrong one. I have that issue also. Every time I try to stab the distributor, I'm one tooth off. I checked the part number on summit and it was for a 93 - 8?

I would just set the new distributor in the same position as the old. Mark the balancer where you think zero should be and where 10 degrees is so you can do timing.

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-foru...-balancer.html

This thread has a picture of a HB that shows three sets of timing marks. Note how 30 degrees lines up with zero. This would mean to me that you are advanced 10 degrees on the correct scale

Why are you replacing the distributor? I would pull the balancer completely off and make sure that the key hasn't broke. DO NOT use a pulley puller to remove it!!! Use the correct tools. Also when it is removed you can also tell that you are at TDC because the key on the crank sits at 12o'clock. Just gotta be sure its the compression stroke....

holy geez thats done by the manufacturer lol! If the car runs as stated above then your on the right track. but the outer rings isnt!


Seems that something isnt right, get the balancer to 0* on the compression stroke and then drop in the distributor pointing at the number one plug (on the distributor cap) then you will have a total of about 30* of ignition timing to play with in both directions together! if it dosent crank then you have a problem internally!