Tdc with no viewing ports? Options

[Radmacdaddy]

I'm viewing the great valve adjustment article over at pelican & have my one wheel off the ground to get it just right but I have no viewing ports into my flywheel.

How then can I get the tdc worked out?

I did the straw in the #1 cylinder trick too, put it in & note when it is most pushed out and before it goes back into the chamber... But it still feels like its not just right.

Thought?

[r_towle]

TDC is not something to worry about when adjusting the valves.
Get the rocker arm in question closed to adjust it.
To do this, look at the other side of the motor and turn the motor until the rocker on the other side (same valve type...) is fully open, which you can see.
Once the valve is completely open, the valve on the opposite side is completely close and ready to be adjusted.

forget what you have read and just think about it for a minute.
You have 8 valves in this motor, and you have four cam lobes on the camshaft.
The camshaft lobes are shared with the same valve type on the opposite side of the motor.
When one valve is open and on the top of the lobe, the other side valve must be closed and on the bottom of the lobe.
Then you can adjust it.
Read the above paragraph as many times as you need to till it makes sense.
You wont need to ask anymore questions about how to adjust valves once it makes sense...it will seem so stupid simple it will make you smile.

For your smoke issue and low power.
Rings have a top and bottom.
Top = facing the head
Bottom= facing the crankshaft.
They are marked with two dots typically so you install them in the correct orientation.
Rings have an angled edge that runs against the cylinder...so it matters ALOT that you installed them properly to ensure you ahve decent compression.

Also, on the rings.
They need to be very free in the piston ring groove.
They need to be able to expand as the piston moves up into the compression stroke.
the ring gap is critical...it needs to be set with enough clearance so you dont bind up that cylinder and break a ring.

If that is all done right, you should see enough power to drive it.
The rings will need to be seated but I doubt you will get a decent seat on those glazed cylinders....so just hope for the best.

I would still suggest that you tune it up, time it properly, and clean up the fuel system, filter change and all to get all the fuel you need.

Also remember the little things.
timing is 1432 looking down on to the distributor, clockwise.
The motor will run with the wires hooked up wrong...but it will run like crap.

Also, what type of fuel system do you have?
Carbs or fuel injection?
Lots of smoke and low power could also be a flooded motor.
It may be a fuel system issue now.


Rich