TDC on SOHC V6 - Do I have it?

[Vette76]

Need a little "looking over the shoulder" advice on this one...

I'm going through the left timing chain cassette replacement procedure and I am tyring to establish TDC for the number 1 cylinder before I go to the next step.

With my old Chevys...sorry guys...I'd pull out the spark plug out of the number 1 cylinder, wad up some industrial paper towel and shove it in the spark plug hole. I'd rotate the engine until the compression "popped" out the wad of paper and then used to rotate "a little bit more" to travel the piston to top dead center and get my marks on the damper lined up with the marks on the timing indicator.

I tried this same method with the SOHC V6...but in this case had both valve covers off so as to look to see what location each camshaft was in when I was doing it. I rotated the crankshaft until the wad of paper "popped" out of the number #1 spark plug hole...rotated some more to make sure the left and right camshaft "slots" and camshaft position censor were in the appropriate positions, as well as to travel the piston to what I thought would be TDC and then thought I had it perfect.

Now I look down at the timing marks on the damper and the darn thing was smack dab on the 0 degree mark of the indicator!

Please tell me I hit TDC!

Thanks for the help.

 

[waskly]

the timing marks on the damper are not used..... tdc is found on these cars using cam setup tools.

 

[2000StreetRod]

Camshaft sensor nub

When the 0 mark on the balancer is aligned with the pointer and the camshaft sensor nub is above the centerline of the camshaft axis as shown below you have achieved TDC with #1 cylinder on the compression stroke as accurately as possible without using the OTC 6488 timing tool set.

 

[Vette76]

Thanks Dale! I have the timing tools coming but I guess that I was of the understanding that before you start to undo the timing chains, that the number 1 cylinder needs to be at TDC.

I guess I also thought that the timing tools only align the camshafts while the crankshaft tool only "holds" the crankshaft in the position that it's put in. Which presumably would be at TDC. Does that crankshaft timing tool actually 'align" the crankshaft, other than just holding it in the place that you leave it in?

I also wanted to get it at TDC while the front engine cover was on to begin with. By doing it that way, I figured I could get a basis for where the crankshaft should be before I began the camshaft procedure. Once I finished with the sprockets/chains under the front cover, I could then put the front cover back on and put the crankshaft holding tool back on to time the camshafts. That way if nothing moved from the begining, I'd presumably have the timing tools working off the same initial basis of where the crankshaft was at the start.

Is there anything blatantly wrong with that approach?

 

[2000StreetRod]

good approach

Post #5 of the following thread lists the Ford service procedure for replacing the primary (jackshaft) timing chain components using the OTC-6488 tool kit.

SOHC V6 Camshaft Timing

The procedure states "While observing the timing mark on the damper, turn the crankshaft clockwise to position the number one cylinder at TDC and install crankshaft TDC timing tool 6479."

I've never used the timing tool set myself. Some members report the crankshaft holding tool as rather flimsy and difficult to use accurately. I think your approach of setting the crankshaft to TDC prior to disassembly is a good one. How do you plan to torque the balancer retaining bolt to spec? I doubt that the 6479 is designed for that purpose.

 

[Vette76]

The section of the repair manual you cited actually confuses me. Sorry for my ignorance here but I'm assuming this is meant to mean that the crankshaft timing tool locks the crankshaft while the front cover has been removed? Otherwise I'd never be able to get to the primary timing chain off the jackshaft. Right?

What confuses me is that it states "while observing the timing mark on the damper". Which would otherwise mean that the front engine cover is still on, wouldn't it? Or do I need to remove the damper, remove the front engine cover and then put the damper back on while I apply the crankshaft locking tool onto the damper at that point? But if I did that, I wouldn't have the timing indicator available because that is located on the front engine cover.

I seem to be getting myself in a circular loop at this point.

Here's my thinking: I figure that I have the engine at TDC right now with the front engine cover on. So I'm starting out in a good place with the crankshaft and the camshafts being correctly in place at TDC. My thought is that with the front engine cover and damper off, I will then place the crankshaft timing tool on at that point and would have to make the required minor adjustments to the position of the crankshaft. Is this correct?

I seem to not be interpreting correctly when the crankshaft timing tool goes on.

Your question as to how I'm going to torque the balancer bolt once I get it all back together was met with a long silence on my end Not having seen the crankshaft timing tool yet, I was sure hoping that it was beefy enough to hold it in place. However, when I looked at it on line again, I sure didn't get a good feeling about how it's built. I think I might use my strap wrench around the balancer and rig an extension (pipe) off of the handle and wedge it against the front horns of the frame to hold it there while I took the balancer bolt down.

Any thoughts?

 

[waskly]

the book is wrong.

since the engine is timed, with the front cover off and the balancer off.

as for installation of the balancer, most people dont even own a balancer install tool. they bang the thing on and tighten the bolt. since its keyed. you think torque on the torq to yield bolt matter after the beat the living hell out of the crank.... cmon now srsly...

did you drop any cams yet?
or touched the timing yet?

 

[2000StreetRod]

when camshafts timed?

The front timing cover will have to be removed in order to replace the left cassette. However, the camshafts are normally timed with the front cover installed and the balancer mounted. If you PM me your e-mail address I'll send you the Mustang SOHC V6 assembly instructions.

I purchased a chain wrench from Harbor Freight Tools but haven't tried it yet to hold the balancer when tightening the retaining bolt. If you use a strap or chain wrench don't attach it to the outer section of the balancer as you may damage the rubber type material between the inner and outer sections.

 

[Vette76]

StreetRod, Just PM'd you. Thanks!

Yeah, I went back to one of your earlier posts and saw what you had written about the best place to secure a strap/chain wrench on the damper. As a result, I have started to rig a pipe extension to fit over the handle of my strap wrench. Once I secure my strap wrench on the "collar" of the damper, forward of the timing "teeth", I'm going to take that pipe extension and put ito over the handle of the strap wrench and wedge the extension on top of the driver side frame horn. I'm also looking at tack welding a heavy wire loop on the end of the pipe extension so that I can then bolt it into one of the holes that are available in the frame.

This way I'll hpoefully be able to secure the damper as well as not taking the risk that it will slip.