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Generally speaking, eight cylinder engines have the top gear dot on the bottom and the bottom gear dot on the top - facing each other. You may want to check a repair book or shop manual for your specific engine.
To set the timing on our Ironhead, Take the spark plugs out of the engine, get the rear wheel off the ground, and remove the timing plug from the left side cases. Shift the transmission into fourth gear.
Using a plastic drinking straw, (do not use anything else because if whatever you use breaks, you'll have to pull the head to get it out. The drinking straw will not break or damage the piston), inserted into the front cylinder spark plug hole, rotate the rear wheel in the normal running direction until the piston comes up to Top Dead Center. Look in the timing hole and you should see a vertical line in the middle of the hole or there about. If not, rock the rear wheel forwards and backwards a bit until you find it. This is the TDC mark.
Then, start backing the rear wheel up until you see a "dot". This is the "Front Cylinder Advanced Timing Mark". This is what you want to set your timing to. Connect a timing light to the front cylinder.
To check the timing, shift the transmission back into neutral and lower the rear wheel. Install the spark plugs and temporarily install the timing plug. Start the engine and let it warm up just a bit. Then bring the engine to a high idle of 2000-2500 RPM, remove the timing plug, and shine the light into the hole. You should see the dot in the center of the timing hole. Caution: there is a mist of oil that will blow out of the timing hole. Do not let it blow into your eyes. Cover the timing light end with a plastic sandwich bag or something. H-D makes a clear plastic plug but it's not much good. A "Clean & Time" plug works good but you'll have to order one from one of the aftermarket companies.
To change the setting of the timing, remove the cover from the timer cavity on the right side of the engine. Loosen the hold downs on the timing sensor plate and rotate the plate slightly. Rotating it clockwise advances the timing making the timing mark move towards the rear of the timing mark hole. Counterclockwise moves the dot towards the front of the timing hole.
ignition timing marks are notch on crankshaft pully and marks on timing cover, but is controled by ECU and is not adjustable,
valve timing marks are, dot on camshaft pulley and mark on cylinder head at approx 4 o'clock, crankshaft marks are dot on crankshaft pulley and dot on engine at approx 1 o'clock hpoe this helps
Regards
Jim
Verify that the distributor rotor is pointing directly at the #1 cylinder spark plug wire tower on the distributor cap, with engine set to TDC on the compression stroke for the #1 cylinder.
If not, and you have not touched the distributor previously, you have not set up the valve timing properly. Recheck your timing gear and chain alignment marks.
Hope any of this helps you. Good Luck!
If you need a diagram of the timing chain and gears, email me a request at [email protected]
IF YOU HAVE THE ENGINE APART YOU MUST LINE THE TWO DOTS FACING EACH OTHER THE PISTON MUST BE AT THE TOP OF THE CYLINDER FROM THERE PLAFCE THE CAM IN WITH THE DOTS ON THE CRANK AND THE CAM FACING EACH OTHER. YOUR ENGINE IS NOW IN TIME. NOTE: THE DOTS MUST BE PERFECTLY IN LINE
on the shafts you should be able to see little engraved dots rotate shafts to dots meet together this should bring everything to top dead center every shaft make has this tool mark ingraved in them
Set your engine to TDC and see if your rotor arm is pointing to number 1 cylinder. If not, slowly move the dissy until the arm is pointing to No 1 cylinder. Lock the dissy and turn over the engine. The HT leads needs to be the correct order.
Well you have good compression so your cylinders are OK.
I cannot help you with the vacuum hoses, but, try and plug them because if they are sucking air they will make the mixture weak and that will cause the engine to run badly.
To be honest if it is rocking about as much as you say then I would suggest it is only running on three cylinders. If you are happy with the sparkplugs and HT leads then it has to be a fuel problem, the injector with the broken plastic part? are you sure its operating correctly?
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