Timing

[Final777]

I've got a question for everyone could someone please explain this to me. When replacing my timing belt the auxiliary shaft, Cam shaft, and crank shaft gears have to be lined up for proper timing right? Well if it calls for -10 degrees ignition timing, do i set the Crank shaft at -10 degrees right before i put my timing belt on? What's the purpose in moving the distributor? Please someone help me understand this!!

 

[Blmpkn]

Cam timing is a separate thing from spark timing. The distributor changes your spark timing.. adjustable cam gears are the only proper way (I believe) to alter cam timing.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I've got a question for everyone could someone please explain this to me. When replacing my timing belt the auxiliary shaft, Cam shaft, and crank shaft gears have to be lined up for proper timing right? Well if it calls for -10 degrees ignition timing, do i set the Crank shaft at -10 degrees right before i put my timing belt on? What's the purpose in moving the distributor? Please someone help me understand this!!

Line up the cam/crank pulleys then adjust ignition timing with the distributor.

What are you working on? Im assuming an early 2.0/2.3?

 

[Final777]

86 ranger 2.3 my timing belt broke and i had to replace it but my question is when i put the belt back on do i set the Crank shaft pulley mark with 0 degrees on the outside cover? Then i set my distributor timing to 10 degrees before tdc correct?

 

[Final777]

A buddy of mine told me to set the mark on the csp to 10 degrees before tdc but t that's not correct is it?

 

[RonD]

No, not correct

Timing gears have marks on the 2.3l Lima's, no room for deviations
This is the Crank(piston) and Valve(Cam) timing, so as said not related to Spark(distributor) timing, i.e. the 10deg BTDC

Drawing here of timing belt and marks: https://www.justanswer.com/uploads/fordguy4u/2008-12-05_180920_A1.jpg

Close up of Crank gear here: https://stangnet.com/cdn-cgi/image/...80a3-f7be-40ba-8df7-6355502f5035-jpeg.640951/

Cam gear has a Triangle mark which lines up with Triangle mark on engine at about 4:00
(this gear can also have a Diamond mark, ignore it)

Crank gear has a mark next to the keyway, as seen in picture, line it up to the notch


The AUX(oil pump gear) prior to 1989 didn't need to be "timed" because there was no Cam Sensor, but...........................
It does drive the distributor, so to save you some time in pulling out distributor and re-timing it, you can turn this gear until distributor's rotor is pointing at #1 spark plug wire on the cap
And then put the belt on, assuming other two gears are lined up

After belt is on and tensioner is holding it tight
Rotate the crank one full turn
Distributor rotor should now be pointed at #4
Then another full turn
All marks should be lined up again and distributor rotor is again pointed at #1
Reassemble engine and start it up(may need to move distributor slightly one way or the other to start engine)

You always have to use a timing light to fine tune the spark timing to 10deg BTDC when you change a timing belt
There is no other way to do that
And you need to remove the SPOUT connector prior to setting this timing
Let engine idle for a few minutes, needs to be warmed up a bit
Then shut it off
Hook up timing light and unplug SPOUT connector
Restart engine and check timing
Adjust distributor for 10deg BTDC
Tighten distributor
Plug SPOUT back in, engine still running
Recheck timing
Should now be 20-22deg BTDC
Shut off engine you are done

 

[scotts90ranger]

What Ron said...

If the last person to mess with it did it right you shouldn't have to touch the distributor but that leaves the chance that they did it wrong. I would just line everything up like in Ron's post then pull the distributor cap and make sure the rotor points to the #1 plug wire and if it does it's likely correct, but wouldn't hurt to check the timing if you have a light...

 

[Final777]

Okay that explains what I need to know but I do have just one more question does anyone know where to find a picture of what the mark in the cam looks like? There's a big notch on the cam but I've seen pics this diamond on other pictures I've seen but I haven't been able to find a diamond on mine maybe that's why I've been so far off on the timing

 

[scotts90ranger]

The top link Ron posted to justask depicts the marks pretty good

 

[RonD]

There is this type: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/U-oAAOSw9otg9gIg/s-l1200.jpg
Mark is easily seen

And this type that has a shoulder ring around the gear: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ra...3027e69582fccdefc8eaa695a91ae1c5fe797088.jpeg
Triangle mark seen, that is for Cam timing

And this: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ra...d73b100ebaa2164925b9098279c8a845dca49fc7.jpeg
Diamond mark seen, that is for AUX shaft timing IF...........there is a Cam sensor

Cam gear and AUX gear are exactly the same size, so interchangeable, so a replacement gear will either have BOTH marks or just the one mark for Cam timing if there is no shoulder ring

 

[Final777]

I also mightv need to add that i cannot get the crankshaft pulley off. i removed the bolt but i dont have a harmonic puller so I reinstalled the bolt. i know it was correct because it ran just fine before. i did however have to put my new belt on little by little while turning the crankshaft. that was really fun, but my point is im almost certain that since i was never able to get the pulley off. im thinking i should probably just leave it alone. i still however have to set the crankshaft damper notch as well correct? so how do i go about doing this using only the little groove that is on the damper (the actual pulley). is this possible? or do i just need to go get the tools to take off the harmonic balancer?

 

[RonD]

You should be able to see the Keyway on the crankshaft with harmonic balancer bolt/washer removed

Crank keyway needs to be at 12:00 IN RELATION TO THE ENGINE, not the vehicle
2.3l sits in the engine bay at a slight angle
Oil Pan is bolted to the engine so that's line you use
Oil pan edges are at 9:00 and 3:00, keyway at 12:00

 

[scotts90ranger]

Or just put the outer timing cover up to it and line up the notch with the 0, it is the same thing. Once you have the belt on and aligned, turn the engine twice to verify the timing marks (since cam and aux pulleys move half the speed of the crank, have to turn the crank twice)

 

[Final777]

Well my outer timing cover is not numbered. But there are 5 marks altogether on it and one of them is notched out of the plastic which forms a (cut out) v shape which im assuming is -30 -20 -10 0(notch on outside cover) and +10 degrees i really really appreciate everyone here for helping me understand this, if it wasn't for this site i probably would have given up by now. Im definitely not mechanic savvy. But i love my truck, and i need her, so i have learned everything that i can and i will always try my best to learn more every day THANK YOU RANGER STATION!!!

 

[scotts90ranger]

Hopefully this helps, not sure what year but being serpentine and distributor I'm pretty sure '87-88, came with my '97 (they asked if I wanted it thrown in, I couldn't say no...) The one notch on this timing cover is at TDC, I have a '85 cover on my '90 I think so I could look tomorrow after work...