checking out an 86 mk3 tomorrow

[cvbikeguy]

Originally Posted by cre

When you torqued down the bolt did they move smoothly all the wayuntil you stopped or did they stutter or skip? It's important.


The CPS is easy. Here's how I do it broken down into tiny steps:
Remove cap so rotor is visible.
Line up circle indicator with notch on the other end.
(I don't do this, but you might as well) Use a magic marker to place a mark on the rotor and on the CPS/Dizzy housing so you can relocate/verify 0? easily if you need to.
Now, insert the shaft in the hole...
Giggle like a girl. (optional)
Before seating the CPS/Dizzy, rotate the whole assembly so the CPS/Dizzy retainer bolt's hole is in the CENTER of the eccentric opening.
Now, as long as the rotor is still at 0?, insert!

NOTE: Due to the cam and rotor's helical gears the rotor will rotate a little bit as it turns. If it doesn't line up very close to 0? when inserted try backing it out and rotating the rotor just a hair clockwise or counterclockwise to correct for the rotation. Mine's not dead on, but it's only off by 1/16" or so... With the dizzy lined up to the center of the eccentric bolt hole my timing is pretty much at 0?. You don't have to do it this way, but it makes things easier sometimes and you can then confidently mark the CPS/Dizzy housing to reflect where 10? is.

does it matter how the cap is installed?

[cvbikeguy]

ok so i start work tomorrow. i know its sad that i still cat understand this process but any help is appreciated. what is the notch and indicator? people keep saying to point the arrow to cylinder 1. and does it matter what way i have the dist. cap?

[oregonjoe]

The cap only goes on one way - its keyed.

Besure you got the plug wires correct on the cap and locate the #1 Spark terminal on the cap. Then mark the distrib housing where the post is.

When the distrib is installed correctly, the rotor will boin to the mark when the engine is at TDC on the crank mark.

But the engine is TDC twice during cycle so be sure ist on the compression stroke. Put a screw drive in the #1 spark hole and be sure it tops out at tdc or else its on the exhaust stroke.

Any errors in putting timong belt on will also cause the symptons. Need to look at cams and be sure valves are opening and closing at the right time.

Be sur ethe two marks on the cam sprockets ling up on crank TDC. You need to check that after several rev as the belt will tension and stretch after install

[cvbikeguy]

Originally Posted by oregonjoe

The cap only goes on one way - its keyed.

Besure you got the plug wires correct on the cap and locate the #1 Spark terminal on the cap. Then mark the distrib housing where the post is.

When the distrib is installed correctly, the rotor will boin to the mark when the engine is at TDC on the crank mark.

But the engine is TDC twice during cycle so be sure ist on the compression stroke. Put a screw drive in the #1 spark hole and be sure it tops out at tdc or else its on the exhaust stroke.

Any errors in putting timong belt on will also cause the symptons. Need to look at cams and be sure valves are opening and closing at the right time.

Be sur ethe two marks on the cam sprockets ling up on crank TDC. You need to check that after several rev as the belt will tension and stretch after install

so i line up the long arrow piece where no.1 spark wire would plug in on the cap?

[oregonjoe]

When you put the cap on the Rotor point to termianl 1 with engine at TDC

[cvbikeguy]

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