8v crank timing

[tonyjohnson]

hi, just a quick one can anyone tell me when changing the cambelt what mark do i line up on the flywheel to set the timing is it the diamond or the punch. i have searched around but i am just getting more and more confused.

[richard s]

hi mate i have been confused about same thing and danny p has just put me right by telling me that crank goes to tdc which is the little mark i believe

[tonyjohnson]

i timed it up to the diamond and i have put it all back together now, b*llox

[tonyjohnson]

any other advice anyone

[danny_p]

allways treat timeing marks on mk2 flywheels with caution !!   some times there a 1/3 turn out, other times there arn't any,  very often the orinals are a 1/3 out so someones made new ones that are on the piss

i have  stop that screws into number 1 plug hole,  turn engine till piston taps it, marck point,  turn engine back other way till it taps it again mark that point and halfway between is true TDC.  ( very usefull when have a vernier pully )

when putting cam belts on  you'll ether be a tooth out or as spot on as the pullys will allow as it's a toothed belt.   6 degress out at the cranck is 3 at the cam,   thats not a tooth on the belt  so all other things been good,  pulling the taught side of the belt reasonbly tigth when offering it up and picking the nearest tooth it should still be timed rigth with a bit of luck

[rubjonny]

the flywheel marks are usually accurate, as they can only be fitted on 1 way (well, you can force the flywheel on wrong)  As dan says check piston #1 is at the top when you have lined the flywheel punch mark up, you can be 99&% sure its spot on then, especially if its an oem flywheel.  If you have the punch & diamond marks then its an oem flywheel. (new ones dont come with the diamond mark you gotta make your own)

the cam marks should be ok, as long as the sprocket has been fitted the right way, and ignore the intermediate shaft mark just check the position of the actual dizzy.

If you lined the crank up to the diamond mark its not a big deal, just loosen the tensioner and move the cam sprocket when the bottom is lined up to tdc. the rotor arm only needs to be close enough that the car runs, you should fine tune it with a timing light anyway.

[danny_p]

you've had better luck than me with flywheels

[rubjonny]

ya I've only had original VAG ones, not replacements!

[danny_p]

its the problem with 20 yr old cars,    its been around long enough that any part you can think of may have possobly been replaced at some point.

gsf flywheels don't have timeing marks  wel they din't,    now whenever have engine out or box off i check teh tdc marks and redothem if required