Morris Minor Owners Club

When fitting the timing chain do the dots have to line up with no1 piston on TDC firing? Currently the dots line up with no4 piston at TDC firing? Is this Ok or do I have to move it. All the book says is line up the dots with the crank at 12 o’clock and the cam at 2 o’clock (Some say 1 o’clock)

All you need to do is align the dots. If the dots are aligned all the rest falls into place.

Wth the dots adjacent to each other the cam will set the valves for firing in cylinder 1. If, in this position, the rotor arm is pointing to cylinder 4 then that suggests that the distributor d.rive is 180 degrees out.
Good luck.

Note that 12 and 2 o'clock is the approximate position of the keyways not the dots.

Jim McCrae wrote: ↑Sat Aug 24, 2024 3:48 pm Wth the dots adjacent to each other the cam will set the valves for firing in cylinder 1. If, in this position, the rotor arm is pointing to cylinder 4 then that suggests that the distributor d.rive is 180 degrees out.
Good luck.

That's what I thought, but the Tappets are loose (rocking) on number 4 cylinder which suggests that is firing? Can't think of any way to alter this. I aggree that the distributor drive is 180 degrees out but this works fine. Just repositioned the leads.

If you align the dots correctly then everything will be correct. Don't worry about it.

My understanding is: The cylinder about to start the ignition stroke (cylinder 1) will have both valves fully closed as it reaches TDC. The opposite cylinder (cylinder 4) will be going from the exhaust to the inlet stroke so the exhaust valve will be closing and the inlet just starting to open.

Jim

The engine is valve timed on number 4 when timing marks are aligned.
Not to be confused with ignition timing the external pointer which is firing on number one.
As stated previously just lilienthal dots asper the manual and don't worry about it.

Thank you for all your comments, everything is now working fine.