Hello everyone. I cant seem to be able to set the timing marks on my mini. I think it skipped timing so i ordered a new timing chain and guides. Im trying to get all marks to align before taking everything apart but i cant. When cam arrow aligns with 1 dark link on chain, cyl 1 is all the way down instead of up. Any ideas? Or suggestions? Or how can i get it timed properly tonmake sure that when i take everything apart and put back together the car will start

 

I think the only way to set timing is by taking off the whole cover and lining up the three marks with the three gold links on the chain.

 

If it skipped a tooth, you won't be able to get the marks lined up before you take it apart unless you get it to skip a tooth back (not likely). Best bet is to set the crank at TDC, pull the chain, turn the cam to line up , reinstall the chain, tensioner and new guides being sure that all points line up correctly with the chain points. No other way around it.

 

I had the same question when I put my timing chain on recently. I had the timing cover and the oil pan off, so I could see that with the colored links lined up to the arrows and the cam locking tool installed, cylinder 1 was nowhere near TDC. It turns out that using the cam locking tool and aligning the links to the arrows puts this engine with all 4 pistons at equal height. So your #1 piston wont be all the way up, but it also shouldn't be all the way down. All 4 should be at the same height. This is the only engine I've ever heard of that you don't set timing at TDC so I was really surprised.

 

As far as I'm aware, according to the Haynes manual, the timing is done in this manner to avoid the chance of the pistons colliding with the valves if the cam is rotated too much. I found this intriguing myself, however when you take off the crank pully your guaranteed to turn the chain and misalign what you aligned.. This means once you get the crank gear cover off you have to put the bolt back in to turn the crank back into position.