How to tell when the rotor is pointed to mark on distributor to detmine cylinder #1
 

Can somebody give me a sure fire way to make sure that my rotor is lined up with the mark on the distributor for cylinder #? I'm finding myself slightly confused, and want to make sure that I'm not on cylinder #4. My rotor has no significant markings on it (from what I can see) that show me clearly. I Z1 mark on the fan belt lined up with the mark on the case.

A picture would be fantatic. I want to be 100% I'm right and it is the first time I have done this.


I have a 72 911T with MFI.

Thanks.

There is a notch in the metal housing of the distributor where the cap goes on. #1 is in approximately the 4 o'clock position. Just get the rotor pointed at the notch. Also check out this Pelican Tech Article: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_static_timing/911_static_timing.htm

Which part of the rotor needs to point??
 

Which part of the rotor needs to point to the mark on the distributor???

Thanks???

Okay, here is a picture of my rotor.

which part needs to point to the mark on the distributor when the crankshaft mark Z1 is lined up with the mark on the case for the engine to be at TDC for cylinder #1.

Hopefully this image attached.

thanks

Ian,

On your rotor, the part that should be facing the notch indicating it is installed properly is at approximately 3 o'clock on your picture.

If it doesn't start you could still be 360 degrees, or one complete revolution out of phase, so note that you could still be incorrect in your installation even though it looks correct. If this happens, rotate your engine around to Z1 and with the rotor pointing at the number 4 position, pull the distributor and rotate the rotor to the number 1 position. Try again! This has never failed me, but the right way to do this would be to pull the plug on the number one cylinder and see where it is in it's travel. A bit more work, but accurate the first time out.

Hope this helps.

Marc

Just follow the #1 plug wire to the dizzy cap. The rotor should point in that direction when the crankshaft is at Z1.

If this is during assembly you can turn the crank to Z1 and see where your cams are. It the punch mark is up you're at #1.

That's the goofiest looking rotor I ever saw.

DON'T PICK ON US EARLY 911 GUYS !!! WE'RE SENSITIVE ABOUT OUR ROTORS !!!

I would've guessed that's a 959 rotor or 917 or at least a 996. (Feel better now?)

Ian,

Just so you understand what you are looking at. The black thing pointing at around 7 o'clock is the stop for the actual rev limiter. The metal part that meets it is the limiter itself that is centrifically pushed out as the revolution speed of the rotor picks up. This is what supposedly will allow your car to shut down (cut out) when the correct RPM's are reached.

Hope this helps.

Marc

Some of these can be interchanged with VW distributor rotors.

The VW rotors don't have to the rpm limiting device built in. Therefore, a little bit cheaper. Also, it might allow one to gain a little at the autox.

I use the secretary's correction fluid to mark #1 on the outside of the distributor. That gives me an instant look when I roll the engine over to Z1 (cylinder #1) and pop the cap.

Just a thought.

David Duffield

Ian:

Check out this thread for picture worth a thousand words:D

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58925

Thanks everyone for your help.
 

That is what I thought but I wanted to be 100% sure. I'm in the process of adjusting valves and wanted to make sure that I didn't confuse cylinder #4 with cylinder #1.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

ian