How to set piston to top dead center on the compression stroke

Hope this helps: SO EASY HOW TO FIND TOP DEAD CENTER TDC ON THE COMPRESSION STROKE PROBLEM... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2sA-q7_Ftq

HOPE YOU DIDN\'T TAKE OUT THE OLD ONE YET !!!!!!!!!! YOU MIGHT WANT READ UP ON THIS BEFORE YOU DO. BUT THERE ARE PROCEDURES, DISTRIBUTOR MUST BE MARKED, @ BASE/ENGINE BLOCK, USE PAINT, ROTOR MUST BE FACING #1 SPARK PLUG, #1 PISTON NEEDS TO BE SET @ TOP-DEAD-CENTER, ON THE COMPRESSION STROKE, NOT EXHAUST STROKE, IF YOU REMOVE THE VALVE COVER DRIVERSIDE IF V8, YOU CAN SEE #1 ROCKER ARMS. WHEN ROTATING THE ENGINE, MANUALLY W/WRENCH, BFW, BIG-FU-KIN-WRENCH, BOTH ROCKER ARMS WILL BE EVEN & LOOSE, IF YOU REMOVE #1 SPARK PLUG, THE TOP OF THE PISTON WILL BE @ TOP OF ITS STROKE, ALSO, TIMING MARKS WILL BE INLINE @ CRANKSHAFT DAMPER. @ 0, TOP DEAD CENTER. WHEN THIS OCCURS, YOUR @ TOP DEAD CENTER . DO YOU UNDERSTAND ???????? BY REMOVING ALL SPARK PLUGS IT WILL BE EASYIER TO TURN THE CRANK. ONCE YOU ACHIEVE & SATISFY ALL THE ABOVE PROCEDURES YOU CAN SET IN YOUR DISTRIBUTOR, ROTOR FACING #1 SPARK PLUG TERMINAL, THAT YOU ALSO MARKED, INSERT THE NEW DISTRIBUTOR EXACTLY LIKE YOU TOOK IT OUT, REPEAT, EXACTLY..........................GOOD LUCK!!!

Set the piston to TDC (top dead center) this is the higest point the piston will rise before moving on to the down stroke, either by lining up the marks on the crank rotor or a long screw driver (large handle so it wont fall in) down the plug hole and watch for the highest point lock or hold at this point. The cams should be fitted next on the 'compression' stroke meaing the all valves should be closed when the cams are seated (no valves being pressed by cams) generally at this point the cam lobs face away from the valves, next stroke down (ignition of fuel) valves should be closed with the exhaust cam moving round ready to rock on to the exhaust valve as the piston rises to the top again (4th stroke exhaust) as the exhaust valve lobe rocks off the intake cam lobe should be starting to rock on opening the intake valve on the down stroke of the pistion.
Trun the engine over by hand to make sure no valves are knocking the piston.
Should be as follows
1. all valve clearance free/rocking at ' TDC 1st 'down' stroke (ignition of fuel) valves closed exhaust moving round but not pressing valve ,
2. 2nd stroke 'up' exhaust valve rocking open and closing as piston tops with the intake ready to rock on as the exhaust closes and piston tops (exhaust),
3.3rd stroke 'down' (intake of fuel) as the piston moves down the intake valve should be opening.
4. 4th stroke 'up' compression of fuel all valves rocking closed as the piston rises for the compression stroke back to TDC all valves closed/rocking free.

Intake, compression , ignition and exhaust. (**** squeeze bang blow)

Set the piston to TDC (top dead center) this is the higest point the piston will rise before moving on to the down stroke, either by lining up the marks on the crank rotor or a long screw driver (large handle so it wont fall in) down the plug hole and watch for the highest point lock or hold at this point. If cam sprocket has marks line them with the cylinder head surface (sometimes the sprocket bolts) parallel.
The cams should be fitted next on the 'compression' stroke meaing the all valves should be closed when the cams are seated (no valves being pressed by cams) generally at this point the cam lobs face away from the valves , next stroke down (ignition of fuel) valves should be closed with the exhaust cam moving round ready to rock on to the exhaust valve as the piston rises to the top again (4th stroke exhaust) as the exhaust valve lobe rocks off the intake cam lobe should be starting to rock on opening the intake valve on the down stroke of the pistion.
Trun the engine over by hand to make sure no valves are knocking the piston.
Should be as follows
1. all valve clearance free/rocking at ' TDC 1st 'down' stroke (ignition of fuel) valves closed exhaust moving round but not pressing valve ,
2. 2nd stroke 'up' exhaust valve rocking open and closing as piston tops with the intake ready to rock on as the exhaust closes and piston tops (exhaust),
3.3rd stroke 'down' (intake of fuel) as the piston moves down the intake valve should be opening.
4. 4th stroke 'up' compression of fuel all valves rocking closed as the piston rises for the compression stroke back to TDC all valves closed/rocking free.

Intake, compression , ignition and exhaust. (**** squeeze bang blow)

Your engine is on the compression stroke when the piston is at it's highest point in the cylinder with both valves closed. As you turn the engine over. you will see one pushrod go up (exhaust stroke) and back down the the other pushrod will go up (intake stroke) and back down. Now the engine is on the compression stroke and TDC is when the piston comes to the top of its travel. The piston is at the top and both valves at the spring are not compressed. When the spring is NOT compressed, the valve is closed. On the compression stroke, both valves must be closed.

Good Luck
Steve

When your piston is at top dead center - and you roll the crank shaft in the forward direction - the next valve that opens determines what stroke it is on. If the exhaust valve opens - it is on the that stroke. Only AFTER you reach TDC.

if its firing 180 out you need to make sure when you set the timing its on the compression . when the piston is at the very top of the stroke The first one is the Intake stroke, the piston moves down the cylinder while the intake valve is open. Once the piston reaches the bottom of the intake stroke the intake valve closes. The next stroke is the Compression stroke, during this stroke all valves are closed and the piston moves back to the top of the cylinder compressing the air fuel mixture. Once the piston reaches the top you are starting the ignition stroke. With the piston at the top the spark plug fires igniting the compressed air fuel mixture forcing the piston back to the bottom of the cylinder. Once it reaches the bottom you begin the Exhaust stroke. The exhaust valves opens allowing the piston to rotate back to the top pushing out the burnt gases.

TDC is an acronym for Top Dead Center. It is when the piston has reached the very top of its travel and there is nowhere for the piston to go but down. If you align the timing marks on the engine, the piston will be at TDC with the valves on #1 closed.

To position your crankshaft and cam to the correct position, it should be done BEFORE removing the belt if possible. If the belt has already been removed and/or the belt was broken, the same principles apply, but you will have to go about it completely different.

Turn the engine clockwise to align the "O" on the crankshaft pulley with the "O" on the outer timing belt cover.
Remove the plug in the outer timing belt cover and look through the hole. The timing marks on the camshaft pulley should align with the cover pointer. If they do not align, rotate the crankshaft one full revolution and align the "Os" again. They should now align. When every thing is lined up like this, your engine is timed to #1 at TDC and the valves on #1 cylinder will be closed.

Now if the belt has already been removed or if the belt was broken, You may have to temporarily put the outer cover back on. You may have to put it on and take it off several times until you get things lined up. Time the crankshaft "Os" first. It will not matter which rotation you are on if the belt is not installed. (TDC is TDC - the piston doesn't really care where the valves are - that's the camshaft's problem LOL)
After the crank shaft is lined up, turn the camshaft so the timing marks line up with the pointer. Then remove the front cover and install your belt.

After setting the timing belt tensioner, rotate the engine two full turns clockwise and recheck to make sure that all the timing marks still line up. If they do not - repeat the procedure.

hi pauly46 here

set piston to tdc compression stroke then run it down the bore a 1/4 inch

set the tappetts to inlet the bottom valve ( alloy push rod ) to a tightish 0.004" and set the
ex valve the top one ( steel push rod ) to 0.005"

setting at 1/4 pst tdc eliminates decompressor from upsetting valve clearance seting


cheers pauly46

#1 should be all the way up.This is called TDC(Top Dead Center)