Timing exercise gone bad
 

After reading several articles,threads, books on timing, I tackled my 31 SW. Couldn't find the timing wheel dimple by feel, so resorted to visual inspection and successfully positioned it to TDC. Proceeded to adjust cam and rotor to remove as much backlash as possible and felt pretty good about it all. Reassembled everything and tried to start it.
That's when things went south. It cranked a few times, then stopped with a jolt. Starter wouldn't turn at all. Got out to take a look and heard gas pouring from the carb (a Tilly). Removed the carb and there was daylight between the two halves. Tried to turn the engine by hand and it wouldn't budge. So now I am down a carb and can't turn the engine.
Hoping someone will have a great suggestion for releasing the engine and then we will all have a good laugh instead of me spending thousands of dollars on a new engine.
Right?
Much appreciated,
Jim

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Try a short phillips screwdriver in the timing pin hole instead of the pin. Sometimes a sharper point can detect the indent on the timing gear. If that doesn't work, remove your front timing cover and enlarge the indent.

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Or a center punch.

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Yup, sounds like your starter got stuck. Rock it in high gear as described and you may have the timing too far advanced.

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Whenever you attempt to start a Model A always put the spark advance lever all the way up otherwise the engine can try to fire backwards. When this happens it can jam the starter. This is also how people got broken arms when attempting to crank start the car with the spark lever in the down position.

Tom Endy

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Are you sure you were on the compression stroke when you had TDC? Put your thumb over # 1 spark plug hole and feel for the pressure as the piston comes up. You could be 180 degrees off and that is what caused the starter to lock up.

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Thanks all, for your quick attention. Rocking it in high gear was the solution - thankfully!
Thanks Tim for being the first to recommend this and to you Jon for confirming.
Tom, I'd seen your spark advance warning in another thread, so believe me, I am listening to that advice!
Good ideas for finding the indent. I'll be trying them right away as I think we all can agree that Tim's quote that "your timing may require further adjustment" is a bit of an understatement!
Jim

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

rusted, I'm guessing you are correct in that assumption. Thanks!

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

just a suggestion to any one replacing the timing gear, always deepen and widen the dimple on the gear it will save your sanity when tunning your engine

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

ford3 I would not do either. Instead if anything sharpen the point on the timing pin. The original dimple is not a wear point but if you make it deeper and wider it can misconstrue your true TDC.

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

jkessey, on most repo cam gears you can barley see the dimple let alone feel it, if you just widen and deepen it just a little the timing pin will fall into it with out using some home made or make shift tool, the timimg pin is there for a purpose, use it

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Les Andrews has a video on you tube on how to time the car. I took my computer to the shop and did it step by step. I hit the pause button, then went to the next step. You need a light socket, 6v light bulb, some wire and 2 alligator clips.
I can idle mine as slow as a hit or miss.

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

hello all
i was timing my car the other day i did find the dimple with out any problem i had to sharpen the tip in the pin but my question is when i did this i for got to take the pin out and started the car would this have caused any damage to timing gear
kevin
1930 model a tudor
1923 model t roadster p/u

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

probably not, when the high side of the dimple came up it would have just pushed the timing pin out of the way

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

thank you ford3
kevin

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

I take it a step further. I paint the dimple with red fingernail polish. When ever I re-set the timing I crank the engine around until the rotor points to the right headlight. Then using a flashlight and a dental mirror I step in front of the bumper put my knee on the crank handle and ease the timing gear the rest of the way around until the red dot is looking at me in the mirror.

Tom Endy

Re: Timing exercise gone bad
 

Jim, to "KNOW" if your timing is correct, with warm engine & idle speed & idle mixture adjusted well.
1- Spark up=a smooth & rythmical, TADA-TADA-TADA-TADA.
2- Spark 1/2 way down=a faster smooth idle.
3- Spark full down=an even faster, but somewhat "rolling" idle.
If you have all these, timing is PERFECT. Bill W.