Ugh, need more coffee.   Below, I meant to say that "B" is the real
TDC (both valves on #1 closed, and pulley mark @ TDC), not "A" which
is the fake TDC.

I'm sure that I did the right thing on the van, but wrote it up wrong
in email, sorry!

On Nov 7, 2005, at 8:02 AM, Jake de Villiers wrote:

> Michael, TDC is when the piston has compressed the gases and the
> spark goes
> bang, so the valves both need to be closed to contain the power
> stroke. You
> are 180 degrees out. Almost everybody learns this the hard way!
>
> Jake
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Diehr" <md03@XOCHI.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 7:45 AM
> Subject: Re: Help diagnose Cinco
>
>
>
>> Thanks Roger,
>>
>> The problem is that I've already pulled the distributor, AND the
>> drive gear, so I can't trust the drive gear position any more.
>>
>> Here is what I did:   remove the valve cover on the right head.
>> Watch the rocker arms for cylinder #1 (the one at the front of the
>> car on the right head).   Turn the engine over by hand, watching the
>> two rocker arms move.  I notice that when the TDC mark on the pulley
>> is lined up with the case, you either see one of two situations:
>> (A) the intake valve (2nd from front) is opening and the exhaust
>> valve (frontmost) is closing.    (B) both valves are closed.     In
>> my mind, (A) should be the TDC position, right?    It's entirely
>> possible i'm committing a massive brain fart here.
>>
>> Am I right in assuming that on a 4-stroke engine like this, the TDC
>> mark on the pulley turns at the speed of the crankshaft, so there are
>> only two possibiilties (either correct, or 180 degrees off)?
>>
>>
>> On Nov 7, 2005, at 7:16 AM, Roger Sisler wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Here is how I would adjust the engine to install the dist.Loosen
>>> the spark
>>> plugs so the engine will turn over easily.Remove the #1 spark
>>> plug.This is
>>> by the AFM. Next , I would use a socket on the alt nut at the pully
>>> to turn
>>> the engine over.Turn the engine over till you can just start to feel
>>> compression at the number 1 spark plug hole. This ,with your finger
>>> in that
>>> spark plug hole to block the air to get commpression.So now you
>>> know that
>>> you are on the compression stroke for the #1 piston.Stick a screw
>>> driver
>>> into the cylinder till it reaches the top of the piston.Now,
>>> continue to
>>> turn the pully till the sacrew driver stops moving out of the
>>> cyl. The
>>> piston is at the top of its stroke.Stop, cause you are now at TDC
>>> for
>>> cyl#1.Now install the distributor with the rotor jpointing at cyl#1
>>> on the
>>> dist cap.I think the dist can only go in two ways.Right on , or 180
>>> degrees
>>> off.Make sure that the dist. vacuum advance and mechanical advance
>>> is not
>>> binding.That they are at the non running position.Do you have the
>>> proper
>>> rotor?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>