The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Ball and Triangle, who gets the Pointer ?

Greetings all,

I was trying to set the timing on my engine, a 1955 235, with timing light on the pointer and I could'nt really see the marking on the flywheel , so i crawled under the truck with some yellow model paint to brighten up the marking when i noticed some undecipherable
( what the heck is it?) markings ? I noticed a raised ball and about an inch to the side another mark that looked like a tiangle with the pointed end facing out towrads the gears.

I painted both and resumed to set timing, looking at the hole i could clearly see the triangle but no ball, which should i be looking for ? with the pointer set at the triangle i was able to get a slow idle so i turned the can a couple clicks for best idle is this right ?

Actually, the ball is what you want to line up with the needle.

Jacob,

I have a 228 GMC and that triangle is used to check the valve timing. In the past gears at times were not marked (as the story goes) and you had to count the teeth on the cam gear with the piston at TDC (UDC or UIC mark on the flywheel). If the mechanic put it together correct that mark would align correctly.

Here is the proceedur:

1 Engine at operating temperature

2 Crank engine until #1 intake valve closes and the UDC mark (UIC) on the flywheel is in line with the pointer.

3 Place a .002 thickness gage between the valve stem cap and rocker arm.

4 Continue turning engine until all lash is eliminated.

5 If the valve timing is correct the pointer will be aligned with the triangle on the flywheel.

I tried this and it does work. You should never have this problem.

You should be able to align the pointer and ball with the vacuum diconnected and pluged. The engine should idle okay, if not check for vacuum leaks around the carb or intake.

I hope that helped,

Jim