Static Timing Blues - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gmask · #1 11-07-2002, 09:18 PM

OK so I put the head on today and I'm trying to setup the static timing but have a problem. The previous mechanic had offset the timing 10 degrees.. I can't remember why but I'm certain that I don't need to do that any longer as I have a totaly new head.

I set the crankshaft at TDC and matched the mark on the camshaft. I can see the 1 piston crown through the sparkplug hole... so all that seems good for static timing. The issue is that the distributor is about 45 degrees off from where it should be???

I can't rotate the distributor but I could easily rotate the order of the cables to match the new position of the rotor. Doe sthat sound god or should I go through the very big extra effort to offset the distributor gear?

BTW The head and parts look very pretty

240 Ed · #2 11-07-2002, 09:30 PM

Oh yeah, that is purdy!!!

The distrubtor looks spot on! That is where mine was too.

I think that if the chain was dropped or had come off the gear which drives the dist, this gear may have rotated and your rotor might end up being in a different place, but I don't think it matters. Just move the wires around, etc.

240 Ed · #3 11-07-2002, 09:31 PM

Oh yeah, and this is an absolutely super photograph!
Digital i assume, what camera?

gmask · #4 11-07-2002, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 240 Ed
Oh yeah, and this is an absolutely super photograph!
Digital i assume, what camera?

It's the nikon coolpix 990.. awesome camera and thrse days you can probably get one for $400 since they have been superceeded by several other higher resolution models.

ctaylor738 · #5 11-07-2002, 10:31 PM

When you put the distributor in with #1 at TDC the rotor should line up with a small mark on the distributor body. You should also have room to adjust the timing in both directions.

Move the wires so that #1 is in the socket in the cap where the rotor is pointing.

You can also check it with a timing light by cranking the engine before you try to start it.

gmask · #6 11-09-2002, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ctaylor738
Move the wires so that #1 is in the socket in the cap where the rotor is pointing.

The mark on the distribuotr is where the red arrow is in the picture above. I decided to rotate the rotor 180 because it will give me better freedom of rotation shoul dI need to adjust it that way.

I would of course actually get it setup to point to the mark ont he distributor housing but it seems like alot of work to do that.

Anyway...here's another question that came up when I was trying to understand why it got so far off and that is that the woodruff key may be offset? I'm a bit confused about what the woodruff key is.. is it the ring with notches in it that fits between the CAMshaft sprocket and the first cam tower or is it an insert intot he Camshaft sprocket?

gmask · #7 11-09-2002, 06:16 PM

Oh the woodruff key is that little wdege in the camshaft itself. Since this is a camshaft I got from the machine shop I'm guessing it probably is not offset.

psfred · #8 11-09-2002, 06:18 PM

The Woodruff key is the little semicircular bit that goes in a recess on the cam and a slot in the gear. I suppose a straight key might get called a Woodruff, too, but it isn't. If it is offset, the part that goes into the cam isn't straight with the part that goes into the gear, there is a "jog" in it so that the relationship between cam and gear is different that if it were flat.

Peter

240 Ed · #9 11-10-2002, 09:12 AM

[B]The distributor looks spot on! That is where mine was too.

I think that if the chain was dropped or had come off the gear which drives the dist, this gear may have rotated and your rotor might end up being in a different place, but I don't think it matters. Just move the wires around, etc.[B]

You can purchase different offset keys to retime the stretched chain. If you have a new chain, you need the straight key.

Arrange the dist so that the spark plug wires "make sense" as to the route each has to its own plug.
Of course, you would need to move this dist. gear before
re-attaching the chain.
Note: The dist drive that you can see when you pull the dist out, the large slot, This slot is not cut through the middle of this drive. It is slightly offset so you can only put the dist in one way.

I hope this makes sense to you.

One other thought.
ctaylor advised you put #1 wire where the rotor would have it fire.
Yes. and no. You actually need to put the wire as he said, BUT it needs to be just AHEAD of the rotor. Because when the rotor comes zooming around looking for the contact on the cap (pretend you are inside the cap...) which pertains to #1, it will jump its spark just AHEAD of reaching it. Sort of a like when we were young...doh!

gmask · #10 11-10-2002, 12:19 PM

>>>>Note: The dist drive that you can see when you pull the dist out, the large slot, This slot is not cut through the middle of this drive. It is slightly offset so you can only put the dist in one way.

It is? I had no trouble putting it in one of two ways. I look at it again but the slot looked lke it doe stravel done the middle. If it is offset it is very slight and does not prevent me from rotating the Distributor 180.

gmask · #11 11-10-2002, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 240 Ed
[B]Note: The dist drive that you can see when you pull the dist out, the large slot, This slot is not cut through the middle of this drive. It is slightly offset so you can only put the dist in one way.

You are rifght it is an offcenter slot biut not so much so that I coul dnto insert it either way. I have put it int he correct way though.. no if I can just get the rockers in ...