The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Crossrodes on July 09, 2009, 02:21:58 PM

Title: Finding Timing Marks on 79 R65
Post by: Crossrodes on July 09, 2009, 02:21:58 PM

I am in the process of setting up the timing.  I have a timing light which works really well.  It lights up the flywheel just fine (Xenon light).

Referring to my Haynes manual I need to look for an S mark for the timing at idle and for a Z mark for advanced timing at higher RPM.  I can see neither; even after advancing and retarding the timing  I'm wondering if I need to clean up the flywheel some to find this (it seems fairly clean).  Am I looking for the right marks (is there a different mark on the '79).  Has anyone found that they needed to clean up the flywheel?  I'm thinking of sticking a rag on a screwdriver through the inspection hole and turning the engine over manually.

Comments anyone?

Title: Re: Finding Timing Marks on 79 R65
Post by: Bengt_Phorqs on July 09, 2009, 02:26:55 PM

Before you go poking around with a screwdriver have you set the pistons to TDC?  Do that first and then look very closely at the flywheel through the inspection hole.  My markings were very difficult to see but they are there and I'm sure yours are too.  

Title: Re: Finding Timing Marks on 79 R65
Post by: Crossrodes on July 09, 2009, 03:34:33 PM

Yep, I had set it to TDC....I still couldn't see it...I'll keep trying.

Title: Re: Finding Timing Marks on 79 R65
Post by: montmil on July 09, 2009, 03:52:28 PM

When you find your marks, consider doing what I did on my R65s...

I used a chiseled-edge dowel and a rag damp with lacquer thinner to wipe off each flywheel mark. That's a dampened rag, not sloppy wet.

Then, using a pointy Popsicle stick as a "brush", I dabbed a bit of white paint on/into the flywheel marks. Count to, oh  75 -100 and then, with an even less dampened rag -this time paint thinner- and my littlest finger, I wiped off the excess paint.

The white paint remained in the stamped marks and it's now oh so easy to see.

Monte

Title: Re: Finding Timing Marks on 79 R65
Post by: Lucky_Lou on July 09, 2009, 05:17:42 PM

Good advice from Monte the can be difficult to see i had to turn the lights off in my workshop before i could see em using an industrial quality snapon strobe which i borrowed from a pal in the trade.
Lou

Title: Re: Finding Timing Marks on 79 R65
Post by: weasel01 on July 09, 2009, 07:50:40 PM

It's a little bit frustrating operation even when you find it it's an odd angle to view and all the cables in the way dont help either.
I'm gonna try Monte's trick sounds like a winner.

Title: Re: Finding Timing Marks on 79 R65
Post by: Crossrodes on July 10, 2009, 01:25:18 AM

Late this afternoon I found the "C" mark.  I bought some paint tonight so tomorrow I'll do a little painting and see if I can find the other marks and paint them also.

Thanks for all the help guys.