I installed a new balancer and adustable timming pointer. Today I used a TDC locator to find where center should be (I used the tool that goes into the spark plug hole). It was about 1/8" after the actual timming mark on the balancer. I'm lost on how I adjust my timming pointer to point at the actual TDC mark? Do I spin the motor and align the pointer to the place I marked TDC and then move the pointer to the TDC mark on the balancer?

Sounds right to me. Line up the new TDC mark with the pointer as it sits now, then move the pointer over to the original TDC mark. Erase the new mark so you or whoever might be doing the timing isn't confused.

Use the tool like this:
Rotate the crank by hand slowly so that the piston is heading for top dead center.
When the stopper touches the piston mark the wheel/balancer, now turn the crank counterclockwise and continue till the stop once again touches.
Mark it again..true TDC will be exactly between the two marks.

Originally posted by BigRed-L72:
Use the tool like this:
Rotate the crank by hand slowly so that the piston is heading for top dead center.
When the stopper touches the piston mark the wheel/balancer, now turn the crank counterclockwise and continue till the stop once again touches.
Mark it again..true TDC will be exactly between the two marks. Then don't turn the engine anymore, adjust the pointer's "0" to point to the half way in betwen spot.

My balancer has a TDC mark on it already. I understand how to spin the motor clockwise and counter clockwise to find when the piston is at TDC. What I don't understand is how to move my pointer. Do I align my pointer (by spinning the motor) to the mark I made on the balancer then adjust it to the actual TDC mark on the balancer? Or, do I align my pointer (by spinning the motor) to the TDC mark on the balancer then move it to the mark I made?

Thanks for the help.

I do so by bolting a degree wheel to the balancer and use a piece of wire as a pointer. Then remove the rockers from the #1 cylinder. Rotate the engine to where you feel TDC "should" be.

Adjust the wire pointer to the degree wheel at TDC.

Install the piston stop.

Rotate the engine till it stops and record the degree wheel number. Rotate the engine in the opposit direction and record the degree wheel number. Split the difference between these two numbers and readjust the wire pointer to be at TDC. Now go through this process refining it each time till you get the #1 piston stopping at the same point on both sides of the degree wheel. This is now your true TDC.

Remove the piston stop and rotate the engine to the degree wheel indicated TDC. Now simply adjust your adjustable pointer to line up with the TDC line on your balancer.

Determining true TDC is VERY important IMO to be able to make accurate timing adjustments, etc.

Lastly, reinstall the rockers on #1 cylinder.

I would find the actual TDC of the balancer (as stated above, and make a temporary mark there.

You will have two marks where the piston hit the stop, but you must have some sort of pointer to make those marks, right? Remove the "stop" and turn the crank slightly so the "mid-way" point between those two temp lines lines up with the same pointer that you used to make those lines...

The Piston should now be at true TDC!

Now, do NOT rotate the balancer. You can either make a new Permanent line on the balancer (lining up with the pointer, as-it-is), or move the pointer to the balancers "TDC" line...

It doesn't matter what reference you use.

If using a stock-type balancer, I like to also make a small TDC mark on the crank pulley since even if the outer ring slips, the pulley will remain true (until its loosened or removed).

Originally posted by chvyhs:
My balancer has a TDC mark on it already. I understand how to spin the motor clockwise and counter clockwise to find when the piston is at TDC. What I don't understand is how to move my pointer. Do I align my pointer (by spinning the motor) to the mark I made on the balancer then adjust it to the actual TDC mark on the balancer? Or, do I align my pointer (by spinning the motor) to the TDC mark on the balancer then move it to the mark I made?

Thanks for the help. Deja Vu all over again:

Line up the new TDC mark with the pointer as it sits now, then move the pointer over to the original TDC mark. Erase the new mark so you or whoever might be doing the timing isn't confused.