timing engine on Ford 861 tractor

[tacox1949]

I installed newspark plugs, points and rotor on a Ford 861 tractor and want to set the timing. But I cannot find any timing marks on the front of the engine. Can someone help me find them? Please?

If there are no timing marks (because of replaced parts before I bought the tractor), what is the procedure on setting the timing by rotating the distributor?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[WayneIA]

Below the hydraulic pump at the flywheel is a round cover loosened with a 11/16 wrench. Behind the cover, the flywheel is marked. Set at 5 decrees before top dead center.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

It's amazing what you can find with the proper tools. Having the ESSENTIAL MANUALS is tool #1 in anybody's tractor shed. I don't know what you are doing but the timing is done via the inspection cover on the bell housing as shown. You need a timing light to do it right. Breaker contacts: .025"; Plug Gap: .025"; firing order: 1, 2, 4, 3 CW.

FORD OEM 600/800 OWNER-OPERATOR’S MANUAL:

FORD 600/800 TRACTOR IGNITION TIMING & ELECTRICAL WIRING:

Tim Daley(MI)
CLYMER/I&T FO 20 MANUAL

 

[pomester]

be advised that the timing marks may be difficult/impossible to see thru 60 years of crud and rust. I take a small stick (split a paint stirrer to fit thru the hole) and some 220 or so sandpaper cut into a strip wrapped over the end of the stick and clean/polish the flywheel while the tractor is idling.

 

[tripper225]

I had a problem while checking my timing. With so little access to the flywheel I can't tell which timing mark lines up with the reference. So, I used a Sharpie marker to highlight the 5 degrees BTDC and 13 degrees BTDC marks on the flywheel. 13 degrees is for checking distributor advance at higher rpm's, the distributor has fly weights for advance. You might as well check both while your in there. If the timing doesn't advance at higher rpm's you may have some distributor work to do.

Also, I have a 6 volt positive ground tractor. I just pulled my car up to my tractor to power my 12 volt timing light.

Have fun with your tractor.

Jim

 

[Kurt J]

You can static time it to get it close. Get the flywheel lined up to 5 DBTC, pull the #1 spark plug to verify spark, with key on & engine off, rotate the distributor in the CCW direction. When you see spark, snug the distributor hold down bolts - now you are close. Once running, you'll need to tweak the distributor rotational position to get it right on.

 

[datacommand]

I've looked pretty close and cleaned the flywheel, but there are no timing marks? What is my backup plant for timing the engine?

 

[Sean in PA]

It's always best to start a new thread, as most folks on here use Classic View and will never see your post. Have you manually turned the engine by hand, a few degrees at a time, and looked on the flywheel for the entire circumference? There are only timing marks on a small section of the perimeter of the flywheel, near where they need to be to set the timing properly, not all of the way around.

 

[datacommand]

Thanks, Sean, I was wondering how effective it would be to reply in this older thread. Next time I will start a new thread.

Yes, I put a wrench on the front bolt and turned the motor over very slowly, the flywheel is very clean and I found no markings on it. I also inspected the flywheel when I put it on the motor and don't recall seeing any markings on it, even though I didn't know to look for timing marks at that time.

 

[Kurt J]

FYI. The manual also shows the timing marks on the face of the flywheel when looking through the access hole. I have an 860 and my timing marks are on the OD surface. If you didn't look at that surface the marks may be there. I've attached a photo of mine so you can see the location I'm talking about. If you turn the flywheel by hand, loosen up the spark plugs or remove them temporarily so you are not fighting the pressure in the cylinders during the compression cycle. Hope this helps. Good luck

This post was edited by Kurt J on 05/22/2023 at 11:10 am.

 

[datacommand]

Thanks for that note. I had not replaced my starter yet, so I had a large space to inspect the flywheel. I cleaned the edge of the flywheel with a mini wire wheel and turned the flywheel around until I found the numbers. All set!

This post was edited by datacommand on 05/24/2023 at 06:36 pm.

 

[Sean in PA]

Did you confirm that it was at the top of the compression stroke for the #1 cylinder? The flywheel and engine turn through two revolutions for one completion of the 4 cycles (Intake, compression, combustion and exhaust). When the timing marks are at that window it could be at TDC of either the compression or exhaust stroke.

 

[datacommand]

What is the best way to be sure it is on the compression stroke? Finger over the spark plug hole?

 

[Sean in PA]

Finger on the spark plug hole will tell you. Another way is to remove the valve cover and watch the valves opening and closing. Both the intake and exhaust valve should be closed during the compression stroke, and the exhaust valve should be open during the exhaust stroke.