top dead center

[GERRYF]

i have a 1950 merc fh engine that i had to remove the dist to do an internal wire repair how do i get the # 1 cyl to tdc so i can reinstall the dist i assume i have to have the ign rotor aligned to the #1 cyl at tdc
any help with this
thanks gerry f

[George/Maine]

Did you turn the engine and do you remember where the rotor pointed.
TDC on the pulley there is a ball or mark that's top dead center.
With a stock dist. the rotor points down at 6 o'clock dist. in middle movement.
Some caps are marked #1 6 oclock
If you were close to not turning it 180 you should be ok.
Worst case 180 out.

[rotorwrench]

If I have to rotate the engine by hand, I generally remove all the spark plugs the make the job much easier. If you can rotate with a finger in the plug bore of # 1, you can tell if it is coming up on compression. It's a bear to try to use the starter but you can if you just bump it and take it slow. You then just align the timing mark on the crank pulley with the pointer.

The vacuum advance it almost straight up when reinstalled with the rotor on # 1 cap terminal location.

[GERRYF]

george thanks
so if i understand you all i have to do is align the crank pulley mark with the timming mark and i should be at tdc or 180 off is that it

[flatjack9]

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You're going to be a t TDC but you need to make sure it is on the compression stroke as rotorwrench has said.