Chris,
This is from an msg from Mark Steitle back in
2005.
“ Joe,
There was a posting
some time back explaining how to find TDC, but a search of my archives didn’t
turn it up. I think it was Lynn Hanover who explained how to do this,
but I won’t bet my life on that. This process worked for me on my
20B. So, I’ll try to explain it for you.
Remove spark plugs
for easy engine rotation. On #1 rotor (nearest front cover) rotate the
engine in the normal direction until you can see an apex seal in the exact
center of the trailing spark plug hole. Mark a convenient tooth on the
flywheel. (Helps to make a pointer) Then rotate the engine
backwards until you can see an apex seal in the exact center of the leading
plug hole. Make another mark on the flywheel using the same reference
point as before. Now count the number of teeth between the two marks and
place a mark on this tooth. Rotate the engine back again to align this
tooth with the pointer. This will be TDC. Now you can mark the
crank pulley at the pointer on the front cover, or just use the this new mark
on the flywheel instead.
Mark
S.
Bill B
From:
Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Christopher Barber
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 11:25
PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Initial
Timing
As y'all may remember I just built
from mostly new parts a 13b to replace the one that I think I overheated to
the point that coolant was in the rotor
chambers.
I have spent the last few weeks
since the build and a repair of the PSRU by Tracy rerunning wires to better
routes, shortening wire runs (since I made most wire way too long.....to be
fair to myself, the Velocity has a 17 foot + run from the IP to the
engine/firewall so a bit of excess was expected). While I was doing all
of this I kept tinkering with the engine to verify installation and clean
up and put things in a more "flight ready' condition since most of the
concepts have now been proven.
ANYWAY, I am now ready to try to
start the engine for the first time. I believe I have all the hoses
connected, the wires secure etc, however, I am not sure as to how to set the
initial timing. I know this has been discussed but I am not sure
where. I have an aftermarket front pulley that was purchased by my
building assistant David Staten but do not have the docs to it. The
Haynes manual and factory book seems very light on the topic and make
reference to a yellow lead mark which my pulley does not have. Dave mentioned
a rule of thumb as to setting the crank angle sensor etc close enough to get
the engine started, but for the life of me I do not recall what it was. Dave
is currently a bit out of the loop (I will try to contact him in the next day
or two as well) so y'all's help would be
great.
Thanks to Tracy's test modes I
know I have spark plugs a sparkin' and injectors injecting, if I can just get
them to play nicely with the timing I should once again have a running
engine.....hopefully I will know enough this time not to ruin
it.