The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rotating the engine internals

While the engine is out of the truck and on the stand I would like to set the timing. What tool should I insert into the harmonic balancer pulley so I can rotate it to TDC? I know there was a rod that would have been used to start it back in the day, but it was missing when I bought the truck. I’ve never known anyone who actually had one. The fan belt is currently not installed. I know I can insert a screwdriver into the flywheel teeth and rotate it that way, but that takes a very long time! Thanks

If you have the spiral crank lugs on the balancer, it's easy to fabricate a short crank handle from a piece of steel round stock and a dowel pin. Just use a torch to bend the rod into shape. Most newer stovebolt balancers have a squared-off hole in the front that a 3/4" square drive ratchet will fit into and turn the engine. I use a 1/2" drive to 3/4" drive adapter on a long handled ratchet to turn engines with that type of balancer. It's also possible to weld a junk 1/2" drive socket picked up from a pawn shop to a short piece of flat bar, and bolt it to the balancer with two short 3/8-16 bolts, using the harmonic balancer puller holes. "There's lots of ways to skin a cat!"
Jerry

Thanks Jerry. I’ll look closer at the balancer when I get home. I thought they all had the spiral crank lugs. It’s a 1955 1st series 235 motor.

If the damper has holes to use a puller or bolt pulleys onto, put 2 long bolts in the holes & use a long bar or pipe to turn it .

George

Spotbilt xo You could buy a flywheel wrench,use a pipe wrench...carefully,make a tool asHotrod says,you can turn it with a 9/16 end wrench on the pressure plate bolts if it's not to stiff, sometimes use a rag on the ring gear by hand.

Chuck, I believe the last engines to have the crank lugs were the early full pressure 235's - - -1954 and 55 1st. series. The large diameter dampers used on the later 235's and 261's are the ones I've seen with the squared-off center hole that a 3/4" drive will fit.
Jerry

I have been using a big version of a oil filter wrench that has the rubber strap. The strap goes around the crank pully and I turn as needed.