Can't find timining marks on 2001 4.3 Alpha One

[cliffblue]

Bought this boat last fall. While working on other problems I bumped the distributor and it moved. The bolt was not tight. I am familiar with timing engines from 20 years ago, so after reading the Seloc manual it seemed like a snap. When I looked for timing marks on the front of the motor,all I could see was a tab on the top left with a v notch in it. Looking at the harmonic balancer, there are two grooves in it a few inches apart. I don't see any TDC marks or advance or retard degree marks. The engine serial # is OM060235. Where do I start? Thanks, Cliff

 

[Don S]

Re: Can't find timining marks on 2001 4.3 Alpha One

That notch is TDC. You need an advance timing light to set the timing.

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Can't find timining marks on 2001 4.3 Alpha One

I hoped the notch on the engine was the reference for one of the grooves on the harmonic balancer. I can't find the procedure for using an advance timing light in my manual. Never used one before. Just your plain timing light with no knobs or whistles. Any tips on it's use or direction to a page on the use of one will help. Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Can't find timining marks on 2001 4.3 Alpha One

I have no clue why you have 2 marks on your balancer, there should only be 1. Does one of them look homemade, more like a scribe mark?

As far as how to use the timing light, you have to look at the instructions for the timing light. The service manuals can't cover every type tool out there.

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Can't find timining marks on 2001 4.3 Alpha One

Thanks Don, both grooves are machine cut. Identical