Vanished v6 Timing Marks

[stuart_indalo]

So new (to me!) distributor in hand along with timing lamp etc I put the bongo on ramps and moved most of the snow out of the way to give access. I wanted to check the timing first before removing the existing distributor so I could put it all back as it was before.

First issue was that the battery is so far away from the engine that I had to use my jump start pack to power the lamp. I could clearly see the marks on the engine but none whatsoever on the bottom pulley. I assume I was looking in the right place from the service manual and from previous pics on the forum. So switched off engine, into neutral and I cranked, the pulley round, several times, but could see nothing that resembled a mark.

Apparently it should be yellow. I did see something under strobe, very faint, but it appeared to be well off the marks on the engine and may have simply been a reflection of the light. I had a bottle of tippex in hand ready to mark up the spot but looking slowly at the pulley did not see anything I would have confidently marked up.

Any suggestions?

[Simon Jones]

Yep, same on mine. I could see the yellow mark in the strobe light at the top of the pulley, but it was pretty vague and seemed to be quite unstable. At that point I gave up until the warmer weather comes when I repaint the marks properly. Sorry I can't offer any more suggestions at the moment

[stuart_indalo]

Yes I need no encouragement to leave it until warmer weather. I have seen on the V6 running problems thread a suggestion to clean the pulley and redo the marks.

I think I looked very carefully at the pulley as I turned it round but nothing showed up. Is the mark on the circumference anywhere the part numbers on the side of the pulley? It would be good to narrow it down a bit! I would have thought the yellow mark was on a line or something more durable......

[BrianD]

Take out a spark plug and stick a bit of wire coat hanger (or something similar) down the spark plug hole. Turn the engine over with a spanner/socket and find piston top dead centre (the bit where the wire is up as high as it will go before it starts to drop back down again). Check where the pulley is lining up with, that is where the marks *should* be on the pulley, so you may be able to spot a bit of the old paint or something.

[stuart_indalo]

So checking TDC for cylinder no 1?

[BrianD]

Usually but I've never done a Bongo V6 before, 99% it will be no 1 but hopefully will be somebody along soon who can confirm as definite.

[rita]

Take out a spark plug and stick a bit of wire coat hanger (or something similar) down the spark plug hole. Turn the engine over with a spanner/socket and find piston top dead centre (the bit where the wire is up as high as it will go before it starts to drop back down again). Check where the pulley is lining up with, that is where the marks *should* be on the pulley, so you may be able to spot a bit of the old paint or something.

Hi if you use this method you need to make sure the the piston is on the compression stroke (IE all valves closed for that cylinder) not the exhaust stroke.

I am not 100% sure but there may be timing marks on the flywheel,worth a look.

And yes its number one cylinder that is timed.

[Titan1995]

Years ago I made a tool out of an old spark plug. Smashed the insulation off and get rid of the electrode. The solder on a piece of copper tubing. Put a balloon on the tube. Screw the "tool" into #01 plug hole. Turn crank slowly, balloon expands you are on compression stroke. Have hear of people using a whistle instead.