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MG MGF Technical - Lining up the engine (HGF)

Hi all

I'm just in the progress of removing the head on my 1.8MPi using the rave CD, I'm a bit confused with the lining up of the engine prior to locking the cams and removing the cam wheels.
The manual says "turn crankshaft clockwise and align camshaft gear timing marks with mark on backplate -90 degree BTDC" I've lined up the cam gear wheels as shown but the mark on crankshaft wheel does not line up with any of the marks on the engine housing, I.E long line, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,!!!

I would appreciate any advice before i remove the cam gear wheels.

Thanks in advance

Wayne
Wayne D

Line up the crankshaft and the cam wheels fall into line, but IIRC in an odd way (the writing is upside down on one of them). Remember that the cams turn once for every two turns of the crank.

If you are removing the cambelt then remover the front pully before putting in the cam locking tool- the cam locking tool is not the tool for locking the crankshaft and the belt will slip and valves will bend if you try it.
Will Munns

Hi Will

Thanks for your reply, I've lined up the crankshaft with the long line on the housing but the cam wheels are out of line, the rear one reading about 2 o/clock and the forward one reading about 7 o/clock, am i doing this right or just being a little thick??

Thanks
Wayne D

the pully has a tiny notch cut in it, this should point directly upwards - does this ring true?

Will Munns

The notch in the pully is pointing upwards when the cam gear wheels are lined up iaw the rave cd, if this is the proper position then what are the marks around the pully for?
Wayne D

The rest of the marks show TDC and degrees from for timing purposes, the line you want marks as far from TDC as possible, so when you slip up and the cam wheels move there is no chance of hitting a pistion.
Will Munns

That cambelt change video on another thread might point you in the right direction.
Tony

Thanks for all the replys, I have actually changed the head gasket before but my mate lined up the engine for me prior to removing the cam wheels and hes not around at the moment:-(.

Taking the head in tomorrow to see if it needs skimming, hopefully not, well at least the car is averaging 40k between HGF so its not all bad!!

Thanks again
Wayne D

Remember that the cams turn at 1/2 the speed of the crank, so when rotating the crank to its timing marks, you may need a further revolution to get the cam wheels to align.

If they never align, then it would appear that the cam timing of your engine is way out (visions of nasty valve-meets piston encounters) - and your car's engine performance will be way down...
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 20/04/2006 and 21/04/2006

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