Lynx Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 Good evening I've been rebuilding my TR3a engine and it's all back together. Tried to start the engine and she backfired. On closer inspection I find that the rotor arm is not pointing at No. 1 spark plug when the engine is at TDC by reference to the pointer and the hole in the crankshaft pulley. I guess I've messed up somewhere along the way. Is there a simple/straighforward way to reset the distributor to the correct orientation? Your advice is much appreciated by a novice re-builder - many thanks Regards Andrew King Swanage TR3a 1960 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 Hi Andrew, the front pulley where the TDC marker is can be fitted 180 degrees out. You need to establish TDC and reset the pulley. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pfenlon Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 Remove plug No1, finger over the hole Crank the engine when you feel pressure thats when No1 is firing. The pulley May be OK but the dizzy also could have been assembled 180 out. If so remove dizzy, extract the drive gear and turn it 180 degrees and re assemble. then with luck , Geronimo!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 Hi Andrew, the front pulley where the TDC marker is can be fitted 180 degrees out. You need to establish TDC and reset the pulley. Roger Hi Roger How? The pulley fits a Woodruff key. Most likely the dizzy drive is 180 out. Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 (edited) Hi Iain, the pulley can be split in half and fitted back onto its hub upside down The hub 75 has the key slot see items 76 and 77 http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/triumph/tr2-4a/engine/engines-components/internal-engine-components-tr2-4a.html I've been caught out twice by this swinish device Roger Edited September 15, 2017 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 (edited) Is it set at TDC on the compression stroke? Edit. I see Pete F already suggested this. Edited September 15, 2017 by peejay4A Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 Ok but why take the pulley to bits......cos you can? Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 Hi Iain, things come to pieces Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dic Doretti Posted September 15, 2017 Report Share Posted September 15, 2017 Hi Roger Have been caught out by that one myself, the timing hole was 60' out. To be sure make sure number 1 is at tdc and both valves are fully closed, the rotor arm should now point at the number 1 terminal if all is well. Cheers Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drewmotty Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 When I got my TR4 the distributor was set 180 degrees out but the ht leads were re arranged to match. When I replaced the leads with shiny new black ones and put it back together it wouldn't run because I had used my 40 years experience with TRs to put them back having not noticed that they weren't standard???? 15 minutes saw the distributor drive back where it should be and the motor running again........after half an hour trying to work out what was wrong???????????? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSM Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Set no 1 cylinder at t.d.c. on compression, check position of rotor arm the contact it points to will be no 1 cyl. Connect H.T. lead from this contact to no 1 cyl. time the rest of the leads 1,3,4,2, Distributor position does not matter. Harvey S.Maitland Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisR-4A Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 (edited) Set no 1 cylinder at t.d.c. on compression, check position of rotor armthe contact it points to will be no 1 cyl. Connect H.T. lead from this contact tono 1 cyl. time the rest of the leads 1,3,4,2, Distributor position does notmatter.Harvey S.MaitlandYes that will get it running as in (two wrongs make a right) but sometime in the future the bodge will come back to bite you. Best to set it correctly with crank pulley and dist drive where they should be as described by other posts.Chris Edited September 16, 2017 by potts4a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Hi Andrew ~ Take Chris' advice and set it up properly as per the original specifications. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drewmotty Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 +1 Set it as per the WSM or it will come back and bite you (or someone else) like it did me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lynx Posted September 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2017 Many thanks to everyone for your advice and warnings! Such a relief to realise that the straightforward removal of the distributor spindle and turning it sorted the problem! In my naievity I thought it meshed one way only and I'd got something wrong with the camshaft and timing chain etc.. Engine started but very rough so I've read up the method of resetting the timing and will get onto that this afternoon. Thanks again one and all. Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.