Any reason not to transfer timings marks to the harmonic balancer?

[jedwards]

Gentlemen,
I find the timing marks on the flywheel of my Series 1 incredibly inconvenient and difficult to use. They are difficult to see and impossible to use if you are the font turning the engine via the crank handle.

Are there any technical reasons why I should not make up a little static pointer and transfer the timings by making small marks on the harmonic balancer, like a normal engine?

Many thanks in advance
Jeff

[1950landy]

I would say not , my self on my 80" the only time I have used the timing marks is when I rebuilt the motor . I just set the timing by ear. It is like setting up the valve timing it would have been so much easier to just put a couple of marks on the crank gear & cam gear like most other manufactures.

[Blknight.aus]

as a bold reference, no, but be warned if its a proper harmonic balance the rubber can make them shift especially when the engine is running and you're trying to use a timing light.

if you cross mark the inner to the outer of the balancer then you can go a ways to cancel it out.

[jedwards]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for your advice.
Yes I understand that harmonic balancer has a flexible rubber component that allows it move a little relative to the engine speed.

You made a comment that
"if you cross mark the inner to the outer of the balancer then you can go a ways to cancel it out."
would you mind explaining what you mean by that?

many thanks
Jeff

[JDNSW]

Only other thing is you can time it more accurately by the flywheel because of the larger diameter - but the difference is almost certainly immaterial.

[Blknight.aus]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for your advice.
Yes I understand that harmonic balancer has a flexible rubber component that allows it move a little relative to the engine speed.

You made a comment that
"if you cross mark the inner to the outer of the balancer then you can go a ways to cancel it out."
would you mind explaining what you mean by that?

many thanks
Jeff




the outside edge moves relative to the inside driving part, if you put a line on it while staitionary and its pointing at your timing marker, when the engine is running at idle (when torque pulses are usually at their worse) you'll see the misalignment in the strobe.

[jedwards]

Got It. Thanks Dave