BHJ Balancer "0" mark HELP !!!!

[KWIKR 1]

Got a NO START on a newly installed engine . Have spark and gas in the fuel rail . I'm think the cam sensor was set up wrong in respect to balancer markings . Need to know if shown pic is actually "zero" on balancer (arrow pointing to mark used). I used the mark shown as my zero degree " reference " . but I'm think in fact that that mark is not "zero" degrees . Thanks .

 

[corymc]

had a similar problem with mine just took out #1 spark plaug and spun engine over by hand until i could tell that the piston was tdc used a dowel and flashlight to check the piston location, then reinstalled cam sensor and it started. i couldnt tell with that balancer either.

 

[ttypewhite]

Tim here are some things to look for:

1) Valve adjustment. Make sure that they are done correctly and no valves are left open.

2) If you still have your stock balancer, use that as a reference for the zero mark if you know where the key weigh is on your new balancer.

3) Did your new balancer come with a reluctor ring on it, or did you put that on after getting it? Check the reluctor ring with the new balancer to the old balancer. The postion of that ring has got to be exact.

4) Varify your firing order on the plugs in relation to your coil pack. (also make sure the igintion module is plugged in )

5) double check your crank sensor and make sure that the reluctor ring did not ding it.

6) simple fuses your the dash or the fuseble link by the battery

Good luck Tim, let us know what you come up with.

 

[KWIKR 1]

Tim here are some things to look for:

1) Valve adjustment. Make sure that they are done correctly and no valves are left open.

2) If you still have your stock balancer, use that as a reference for the zero mark if you know where the key weigh is on your new balancer.

3) Did your new balancer come with a reluctor ring on it, or did you put that on after getting it? Check the reluctor ring with the new balancer to the old balancer. The postion of that ring has got to be exact.

4) Varify your firing order on the plugs in relation to your coil pack. (also make sure the igintion module is plugged in )

5) double check your crank sensor and make sure that the reluctor ring did not ding it.

6) simple fuses your the dash or the fuseble link by the battery

Good luck Tim, let us know what you come up with.

1) I'm pretty sure that's good

2) do not have a stock balancer kicking around

3) came with ring already installed .


4 & 5) checked . (installed on slot furthest from plug . clearanced good )


6) it's getting spark .

someone must know if that's the right marking for " 0 " .

 

[Sam Colalillo]

I put my shortblock togethor left number one at top dead center. Installed the BHJ balancer to find the "0" mark was 10 degrees off. I found this when I degreed in the cam, glad I caught it.

Not sure if the reluctor ring was correct or not because I already pulled it off, because I am running a distributer and it was going to need reclocked anyway.

My advice is to go with your gut instinct and confirm you are at "0" when the engine is actually at top dead center.

 

[KWIKR 1]

pulled plugs . seems like I'm NOT getting gas into the cyl's . No smell of gas on the plugs ! Inj harness hooked up , gas in the fuel rail .

 

[KWIKR 1]

Got it and it fired right up !! It was a fuel reg problem , seems I was getting volume but no pressure . may of been a little "sticky" from sitting in storage over the winter .

 

[TurboDave]

Got it and it fired right up !! It was a fuel reg problem , seems I was getting volume but no pressure . may of been a little "sticky" from sitting in storage over the winter .

Fuel pressure gauges are sometimes worth their weight in gold!

 

[KWIKR 1]

Fuel pressure gauges are sometimes worth their weight in gold!

yep.... that's for sure . It's a must have in the tool box with these cars .

 

[Chuck Leeper]

So is..

yep.... that's for sure . It's a must have in the tool box with these cars .

an engine hoist.
But, you've already found that out!!

 

[novaderrik]

i know the problem was already figured out, but for posterity i will post a good way to verify that the TDC mark on a balancer is correct..
make a pistion stop out of an old spark plug by knocking all the ceramic guts out, grinding off the electrode, and threading it for a 3/8" bolt. grind the head off a short 3/8" bolt and make a nice "dome" shape where the head used to be. this is the part that hits the piston, so make sure there are no burrs or sharp edges.
insert the piston stop into the #1 spark plug hole, and slowly turn the engine over with a breaker bar in one direction until the piston gently hits the stop. make a mark on the balancer lined up with the "0" mark on the pointer. rotate the motor the other way, and make a mark where TDC lines up.
"true" tdc is exactly halfway between those 2 marks.

 

[KWIKR 1]

i know the problem was already figured out, but for posterity i will post a good way to verify that the TDC mark on a balancer is correct..
make a pistion stop out of an old spark plug by knocking all the ceramic guts out, grinding off the electrode, and threading it for a 3/8" bolt. grind the head off a short 3/8" bolt and make a nice "dome" shape where the head used to be. this is the part that hits the piston, so make sure there are no burrs or sharp edges.
insert the piston stop into the #1 spark plug hole, and slowly turn the engine over with a breaker bar in one direction until the piston gently hits the stop. make a mark on the balancer lined up with the "0" mark on the pointer. rotate the motor the other way, and make a mark where TDC lines up.
"true" tdc is exactly halfway between those 2 marks.

good method . I've also used in the past the hose from a compression gauge (screws right into the plug hole). remove the gauge and tie wrap a balloon to the end . Rotate the engine unitll the balloon filled , go past TDC you'll see the balloon shrink . I'll also knew a old timer who instead of a balloon had a small whistle on the end of the gauge hose . Once the whistle stopped making a noise he knew it was TDC . your method IMO would be more accurate . only problem sometimes it's a PIA to get to mark the balancer once the engines in and you have everything hooked up . thanks .

 

[Chuck Leeper]

On the "check list"??

" only problem sometimes it's a PIA to get to mark the balancer once the engines in and you have everything hooked up . thanks ."

That makes a good case for doing it B4 the engine is completely assembled, and in the car...

 

[steve hughes]

I just checked tdc on a BHJ balancer on an engine i'm doing for a friend. It's off 4 degrees.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Kinda makes..

I just checked tdc on a BHJ balancer on an engine i'm doing for a friend. It's off 4 degrees.

one wonder. If the TDC marking is off 4*, then where's the reluctor location??
I'd suggest they press the reluctor on, and engrave the TDC indicator, using a reference angle to the keyway...
Maybe it's a "metric conversion"???

 

[Sam Colalillo]

I just checked tdc on a BHJ balancer on an engine i'm doing for a friend. It's off 4 degrees.

That is intersting.

 

[norbs]

MIne was off 2 degrees, but the reluctor could be anywhere on these, so Tim you still in trouble, because you don;t know if your actual timing from the reluctor is correct

 

[KWIKR 1]

MIne was off 2 degrees, but the reluctor could be anywhere on these, so Tim you still in trouble, because you don;t know if your actual timing from the reluctor is correct

so...how can it be compensated for ???? you would like to think that these guy's would have thier act togther by now and know how to put a reluctor ring on . from more than likely hearing complaints from vendors and users of their product . as far as I can tell the engine sounds/feels very healthy/responsive on the initial start up . I'm not going to worry about it untill it's on the road and I start dialing in the tune . If I worried about every little "possibility" I'd never get any sleep .

 

[norbs]

I wonder if you open the bypass wire on the coil pack the ecm should go to base timing which is 10 degees. Put a timing light on it and see where the timing is on the pointer. SInce the waste spark doubles the timing what your timing light shows divide by 2 and then subtract 10 degrees and what number is the remainder is how much your relcutor is off.

Sound right?

 

[KWIKR 1]

I wonder if you open the bypass wire on the coil pack the ecm should go to base timing which is 10 degees. Put a timing light on it and see where the timing is on the pointer. SInce the waste spark doubles the timing what your timing light shows divide by 2 and then subtract 10 degrees and what number is the remainder is how much your relcutor is off.

Sound right?

go to bed Norbs . have a glass of warm milk and get some sleep , it's getting late . Tomorrow is another day .