Crankshaft and Camshaft wheels!

[AlanBartlett]

I am about to take on the task of putting my camshaft and crankshaft onto the engines. Now then how do I know if they have been positioned right. Firstly does the camshaft has 3 keyways, does each of these keyways effect the position of the timing? I'm under the impression that if there is a mark on the camshaft for timing then that would be aligned to the closest keyway out of the three? But what if you don't have a timing mark on the camshaft?(That last question purely out of curiosity)

The Crankshaft cog.
When I took it off the the engine to put them onto the new rebuild engine I noticed there was a D shaped keyway, which I didn't really take much notice of, not until recent phone conversation with Ken Rogers, That this can make a difference as to whether the timing is advance or retarded. Now as I remember they like to run just after the T.D.C mark or is if after, been a while since I've had mine running. So depending on which way it is I would have thought you would set it to match the fly wheel marking as advance or retard.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[k. rogers]

Alan, after our conversation I had a look at the section in the Maintenance Handbook and it actually states "......the camshaft wheel is provided with three offset keyways and if the timing is found to be early or late, the camshaft wheel will have to be withdrawn and refitted to either of the remaining keyways where the correct timing position will be obtained." Obviously, this might be unecessary if your existing wheel is replaced in the same position as it came off, like we were discussing on the 'phone.