Forum:
I have recently acquired a '96 sporty which has just had a lot of work done on the head and new timing belt fitted, apparently. The problem is the timing seems to be a mile out, it has got the electronic vacuum advance and at tickover (about 750rpm) the timing gun shows no.1 is firing at about 15 degrees btdc! It ticks over ok, maybe a bit lumpy and doesn't seem to pull that well although I have never driven one before. When the timing is set up as manual it barely moves at all. I have checked the timing belt lines up with the marks and it all looks good. I have changed the plugs and leads, the cap and rotor arm look ok. I tried swapping the leads in case it was put together 180 degrees out but it would not fire up then. Please help.
Check distributor.
Ensure the distributor has been fitted correctly.
1. Set number one [front] cylinder at tdc on compression stroke. Do not make an error by setting tdc on inlet stroke.
2. Match the rotor with the correct lead in the distributor cap.
3. Use strobe lamp to set fly wheel to degrees btdc.
PS ... plugs 1mm
sporty problems
hi rich
i agree with mace about the dizzy being possibly 180 drg out but it is also possible that the cam is 180 drg out on older models the F mark on the cam pulley should be pointed upwards to meet the indicator mark on the cylinder head cover the stamped mark on the the pulley should be aligned with the r h side head when looking from the cam end of the engine even one or two teeth out will make a difference as with the bottom cog not pulley the stamped mark lines up indicator behind the bottom pulley now it is possible to replace the bottom pulley on some vchs in the incorrect position if it is the four bolt pulley connection as used on some older vchs i am afraid that your vch is a bit to new for my books so some guess work needed
before ripping the engine to bits i would carry out a compression test just to check the values if all the work was done on the head because of a timing belt failure i would also check for a sticking or incorrectly seated valve and incorrect valve clearances
as i said some guess worked needed please let us know
regards H