Edelbrock timing chain install? Balancer mark off?

[driven87]

Installed a new Edlebrock timing chain into friends car last night but had a question. With the new set i put the crank gear on at 0 for no advance since it had 3 key ways to go on. i installed the chain and cam gear and when the dots are line up perfectly the crank key way is not straight up and down? Now when the car is at perfect top dead center and the balancer is installed its a good inch past the timing mark with the line in the balancer. Is this correct cause im having a hard time figuring out why at TDC the mark on the balancer is not where it once was. motor turns over perfect just figuring this out for cam sensor install? Thanks for any help guys.

 

[driven87]

After writing that i thought it best to just say when dot to dot on the gears the line in the harmonic balancer does not line up with 0 on the timing tab on the cover with the edelbrock set.

 

[LOT]

having a hard time trying to understand

If you line the O marks facing each other--the crank KEY will be off to the right. On the crank gear there will be 2 O marks ( I assume since I have never used an Elderbrock) One will be @ the edge of tooth, same as cam gear. The other O will be @ the keyway slot. Do you have these right? If you line up the 2 O marks (cam and crank gear) and don't rotate the engine, it will be @ top dead center, or very close. Then if you install timing cover with pointer and balancer, TDC mark on balancer should line up with TDC mark on pointer. Can't be any other way.

 

[696]

Should have look like this. When I reassembled, it was on 0 degrees.

 

[driven87]

mine does look like that but now if you were to slide the balancer on as it is with the keyway to the right a little then the line on the balancer does not line up with 0 on the timing tab at tdc? that is what is making me confused. my last timing set had the key way and dot on the gear straight up and down.

 

[LOT]

I don't understand

"had the keyway and dot on the gear straight up and down"

The picture is RIGHT.

 

[driven87]

maybe im not explaining it as best as im seeing it. in the picture posted here the dot to dot is right on but the key way does not match the bottom dot, its actually over to the right 2 teeth. now on all the other gears i have ever seen or done when its dot to dot the key way is dead even with them straight up and down. on mine and in that pic the key way is off a couple teeth.

 

[Just a Six??]

If #1 cyl is at TDC & the 2 dots are staight up & down 6 o clock & 12 o clock then & the key way is around 1-2 oclock like the pic it should be fine. Having the dot moved over 2 teeth sounds weird & I would question if its the correct part number for the motor or maybe the crank gear is just wrong? Altho if at TDC on #1 & it looks like the pic then the dot should not really matter? I would double check with the part number & call them to be sure.
Make sure you are at TDC on #1 piston.

 

[pacecarta]

if youve done sets on a buick v6 with the crank key pointing up and the dots were aligned ,,, all i can say is you fd up or have poor memory
696 posted a perfect picture of how a timing set should be on install at tDC and dots aligned

the keyway is cut dead center of the #1 rod journal , which when the timing is set dot to dot puts the key at approx 2:00 pointing dead center of the #1 cylinder which btw puts the piston dead on at at TDC

if the dots line up with key at approx 2:00 then its in there correctly ..note that you need to rotate the crank 720 to eliminate the chain slop on right side and confirm that dots are still aligned ,

if you didnt have the crank at TDC (key at 200) but rather key up or somewhere else when you slid the timing set on do not rotate or attempt to try to start the engine with rocker arms in place ,, you need to go back and fix it before you bend a valve or worse ..dont move the crank until the chain is removed and the rockers are off

dont forget to install the oil slinger , dont forget the cam button (spring)
and with the edelbrock chain ..dont use the tensioner

btw just for reference the edelbrock multi key crank gear has a triangle a dot and a square , the triangle is for Advanced (+4) and a square for retarded (-4) , the only dot on the gear is for straight up (0)

 

[thadeal4real]

that is wrong

maybe im not explaining it as best as im seeing it. in the picture posted here the dot to dot is right on but the key way does not match the bottom dot, its actually over to the right 2 teeth. now on all the other gears i have ever seen or done when its dot to dot the key way is dead even with them straight up and down. on mine and in that pic the key way is off a couple teeth.

bal will line up on zero/tdc when both dots are in the 12 o clock position
the pic dot to dot is correct but bal will be about 180 off as this is the #6 fire position i think you are just confused as the key way is not a timing dot
hth good luck

 

[pacecarta]

bal will line up on zero/tdc when both dots are in the 12 o clock position
the pic dot to dot is correct but bal will be about 180 off as this is the #6 fire position i think you are just confused as the key way is not a timing dot
hth good luck

wrong in this case
the dots can still be lined up and wrong as is mostl ikely the case here if he didnt set the crank to #1 TDC (verify key at 2:00) before installing the timing set with a multi slot crank gear like the edelbrock has
and i think (well i know) you're confused ...yes with dot to dot the cam is not at #1 TDC compression stroke when dot on cam gear is down but the balancer will still read zero . when the crank rotates 360 (1 full turn) the balancer will again be at zero and the dot on cam gear will be at top and at that time #1 piston will will be at TDC (again)

 

[thadeal4real]

yes you are correct

wrong in this case
the dots can still be lined up and wrong as is mostl ikely the case here if he didnt set the crank to #1 TDC (verify key at 2:00) before installing the timing set with a multi slot crank gear like the edelbrock has
and i think (well i know) you're confused ...yes with dot to dot the cam is not at #1 TDC compression stroke when dot on cam gear is down but the balancer will still read zero . when the crank rotates 360 (1 full turn) the balancer will again be at zero and the dot on cam gear will be at top and at that time #1 piston will will be at TDC (again)

i was tryn to clarify a bit to take him to get a look at the start like you said probly wasnt on tdc to start but is still a 4 cycle engine so timing needs to be correct that why i said 12 and 12 =0 or there is a problem

 

[speedskills]

1. Place cylinder 1 at tdc on compression stroke. 2. Keyway on crank should be at 2 o'clock. 3. Line up cam and crank sprockets to 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock respectively. 4. Place timing cover and balancer back on. The timing mark on balancer should be set on or close to 0 degrees. If its not you are not exactly at tdc (make sure you are on your compression stroke). 5. Once this is done your ready for cam geat install. While your there measure and mark 1.45 inches to the left of your timing mark on balancer for reference setting your cam gear.

 

[Just a Six??]

maybe im not explaining it as best as im seeing it. in the picture posted here the dot to dot is right on but the key way does not match the bottom dot, its actually over to the right 2 teeth. now on all the other gears i have ever seen or done when its dot to dot the key way is dead even with them straight up and down. on mine and in that pic the key way is off a couple teeth.

Take a PIC of what you have. SO Much Easier that way.

 

[driven87]

A pic would be nice but i have to take it back apart. im starting to think it was right the whole time and maybe i moved the motor and that was why the harmonic balancer was off a little at the timing tab. i have already spun the motor over and primed the engine with no problems at all i just started to think for some reason i may have did it wrong. might take it back apart to see but being as it was said the crank keyway is always at 2 o'clock when its right i may be worrying myself for no reason as for some odd reason i thought the keyway was straight up and down at top dead center.