AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Mighty 258 => The Engine => Topic started by: kajsdf on December 03, 2011, 03:00:13 PM

Title: bad timing chain install?
Post by: kajsdf on December 03, 2011, 03:00:13 PM
finally got everything back together today, went to start the car, and........

crank,
crank,
crank,
crank.

no engine engagement.  it sounded like it was going to go a few times but definitely sounded off -- did i put in the chain wrong?  i'm pretty sure i lined up the timing, but it is possible i inadvertently nudged it...i am assuming i need to take it back apart and re-align the timing marks, but in the chance i am wrong, is there a way to do it without taking it all back apart?
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: mudkicker715 on December 03, 2011, 03:05:02 PM
 I vote for your 180° off on timing. Try moving your plugs to compensate for the new number 1 on the distributor cap.
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: kajsdf on December 03, 2011, 03:17:44 PM
what do you mean, the new number 1...i assume to plug the spark wires in a different spot, but how much?
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: mudkicker715 on December 03, 2011, 03:22:06 PM
180° from where it should be. Than follow that as a new starting point.

just a guess however that you found the wrong way to put it together
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: kajsdf on December 03, 2011, 03:52:25 PM
anything's possible...i'll check the distro and hope it works, otherwise i suppose i'll have to start all over  :-\
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: kajsdf on December 03, 2011, 03:58:53 PM
sounds worse this time...guess i need to take it apart and make sure i got it right...
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: mudkicker715 on December 03, 2011, 04:01:14 PM
 It is showing spark right. There is fuel present. You didn't stock an inert atmosphere tent over it, haha.

Keep it simple before ripping it back apart.
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: kajsdf on December 03, 2011, 04:04:04 PM
everything should be good...i had just done the tfi upgrade right before this and i made sure it worked fine before i moved onto the next repair...took one spark plug out to feed a little rope in the valve to stop it up so i could get the gears off.  double checked to make sure everything was put back proper...it must be the gears, i probably bumped it a little bit...
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: Jurjen on December 03, 2011, 07:09:05 PM
I made some pictures that may have gotten lost in the last big clean-up:

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa237/jurjen_eagle/IMG_0109.jpg)
This how the dots should line up.

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa237/jurjen_eagle/IMG_0110.jpg)
After you rotate it a bit, there should be 15 pins between the dots
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: carnuck on December 04, 2011, 12:08:49 PM
If your valve cover is off, or you can see both #1 (or #6) valves you can check if it's correct by looking for the valve overlap point (when the intake closes and exhaust starts to open or vice versa as you turn the motor by hand) when the timing mark is TDC. Did you rotate the motor at all when you put the chain on? It shouldn't need to move.
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: kajsdf on December 05, 2011, 05:49:17 AM
all is well now...somehow i wound up with 16 pins between the timing marks rather than the specified 15.

thanks to all for help and ideas
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: Jurjen on December 05, 2011, 04:06:11 PM
Good to hear it is OK now.
Title: Re: bad timing chain install?
Post by: kajsdf on December 06, 2011, 12:30:29 PM
somehow you always seem to have the answers i'm looking for -- thanks a bunch