Does anyone know of an easy way to find tdc on a flathead engine? The engine is a 1928 continental 4 cyl. I am reinstalling the mag. The spark plug holes are not directly over the pistons. I really don?t want to pull the head to see the pistons. Any help is appreciated thanks, Mark
- Thread starter Mark Poss
- Start date
J. Schwiebert
Well-known Member
You could close by taking the cover off where you adjust the valves and look for valve overlap on #4.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Once you do the "thumb over the #1 plug hole" to get the engine coming up on #1 compression, being it's a 4 cylinder, you will be able to feel when the engine is at TDC.
When turning the engine by the front pulley, you will feel an "easy spot" when 2 cylinders are at TDC and 2 are at BDC. Just rock the pulley back and forth a few times, get the feel for it, and that will put you close enough to time the mag.
Once running then the timing can be set. If there are no timing marks you'll have to time it by ear. As long as it doesn't kick back when starting, doesn't clatter under heavy load, performs as usual, it will be close enough. Not extremely critical on a low compression engine.
When turning the engine by the front pulley, you will feel an "easy spot" when 2 cylinders are at TDC and 2 are at BDC. Just rock the pulley back and forth a few times, get the feel for it, and that will put you close enough to time the mag.
Once running then the timing can be set. If there are no timing marks you'll have to time it by ear. As long as it doesn't kick back when starting, doesn't clatter under heavy load, performs as usual, it will be close enough. Not extremely critical on a low compression engine.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
On most flat heads one can look in the plug hole and see the piston and valves so you can see when the piston is at TDC
cover for valve train on a flat head is on the side of block, likely 2 panels if anything like Ford 4 cylinder. Fiber optic probe or a bent wire to get to top of cylinder/piston to feel is maybe best- thumb over sparkplug hole close second best. Spark plug over valve area instead of piston so can't see means feel or look at valves. Intake opens on a down stroke means the following up stroke will be compression- valve seated, do a 1/2 turn of crankshaft front pulley- this time for the thumb on sparkplug hole and try to find a notch or scratch on pulley with a mark or pointer or scratch on block. some blocks had triangle sheet metal pointer, many lost then 5 to 10 years later and a 1928 engine likely lost time of Pearl Harbor, been timed by ear since then. All plugs pulled would mean able to see all the valves 1 through 4 cylinder. RN
One engine long ago I needed to time this is how. The finger in the sparkplug hole gives you your compression stroke. Roll the engine over twice so the piston is comming back on compression stroke. About 3/4 Of the way up squirt about two cups of oil into the cylinder. When you get almost to the top oil will start pushing out the plug hole. Just as you get to the TDC position the oil slows down moving and then stops right at the top. Works really well but is just a little messy. Give it a try.
Moonlite37
Well-known Member
That valve access plate is most likely to be behind the manifold and hard o get to. Once you find TDC, mark it for the next man.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
One more thing to look for, not sure on that old of an engine, but Continental sometimes uses a timing mark on the flywheel visible through a hole in the engine flange near the starter.
steve_in_mo
Well-known Member
If your timing is late the engine will run hot, even on low compression engines.
37chief
Well-known Member
- Location
- California
If you fill a plastic tube with oil. Install it in the plug hole, maybe with a cork. Lupe it down below the motor.When the piston comes up the oil in the tube will travel up the tube. When it's at the top the oil will start back down the tube. May be a trial and error until you get the correct tube length. Stan
Mike(NEOhio)
Well-known Member
- Location
- Newbury, Ohio
Did you look for a timing mark on the flywheel.
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