<VV> 140 hitching/missing HELP

[Larry Forman]

Check ALL the normal and easy things to check and fix first, like harmonic balancer, distributor and advance weights, vacuum advance, valves, carbs, cross balance line and tubes, etc.  IF you get to the point where you cannot figure it out and have no where else to go, check the CORSA Tech Guide article on "Finding THAT darn mark" about the cam to crank mark.  The real issue is that it is possible the CRANK gear has slipped and will change the timing.  When this happens, you can pull the bell housing and the timing mark will APPEAR absolutely correct.  The way in that article to POSITIVELY check the timing mark is to put the engine on TDC #1 COMPRESSION mode per the harmonic balancer.  Then drain the oil, drop the oil pan and look for the timing mark from the front of the engine looking at the cam gear.   You should see a little cam gear timing mark RIGHT at the case separation line.

I had a 140 that would NOT run properly unless I changed the timing and even then, it barely ran or idled.  The little cam timing mark was off between 3 and 4 TEETH!  It was a wonder the engine even ran it all.  This is a last resort check when all else has been checked.  If the timing is off just a little it can affect things to some degree, so to speak.

If you degreed the cam when you assembled the engine, then ignore this message, since you already checked it out.

-- Larry