Fogey1

You can find TDC on #1 with a visually indicating probe through the spark plug hole. You do have to be sure it's on the compression stroke. Things like the Harmonic Balancer can be installed backward.

dr bob

"Compression stroke" is determined by cam position, and the belts are off. So TDC #1 is crank position only, each one 360º on the crank from the next. Once the cams are timed, you can declare TDC on compression stroke.

Use a wooden dowel in a plug hole to verify TDC on #1 agrees with TDC indicated on the balancer.


Were it not for the claim of full rotation prior to installation, I'd b looking into each cylinder with a borescope or camera to find the missing rag. For now, slide the chort shaft out of the clutch disk to eliminate any possible TT or other driveline problems. Take the accessory belts off if any are in place. Pretty much isolate the crank/flywheel/clutch so the problem can only be local to the engine.

mark kibort

magic! someone needs to bring an exorsist to you .... QUICK!
no plugs, no compression, no belt and it moves???? you have bigger problems!

mark kibort

and you are sure the timing marks are correct on the cams? if nothing is connected, the engine should move like a swiss watch and no binding or spring loading. there has to be a force for it to spring back.. that force can only be a valve spring or a foreing object in the engine.

you might be able to put the cams at 45 degree BTDC and then you can rotate the engine around a full rev. guys, verify this for me..... i forgot if its 45 before or after TDC on the S4 and that should work on the 82s... generally the 82s are non interference... but i wouldnt take any chances.

dan1066

Problem solved. I failed to verify my initial conditions. The engine was connected to the torque tube. I put the car in neutral and it turns over like a dream. Thanks Mr. Merlin for bailing me out again.

Mrmerlin

Keep Em Flying!

FredR

Dan,
Now you know why they call it a torque tube!

I had a quiet chuckle when I read Stan's post. If you think you are alone doing something seemingly daft do not worry- you are in good company- we all have our tales of stupidity to tell if we are brave enough to admit such.

My dumbest was starting my late S4 in the car port one evening after having taken the inlet manifold off and put it back on again in 40C heat. I was rather exhausted and just about on my last legs.
When starting up after anything with the fuel injection manifold having been removed I always have the garden hose by the side of the car running water on stand by just in case of a leak [or worse].

This particular evening I cranked the car but it was not firing, sensed something wrong after a couple of seconds so stopped cranking and ran to the front of the car- there was gasoline everywhere- I forgot to tighten the test cap on the fuel rail that was finger tight if that! I was very fortunate it did not ignite.

Lesson learnt- best thing to do is to have someone crank the car with oneself stood over the engine bay with the hose in hand [as I now do]! Better still have a written check list of critical fasteners and mark each item as one checks them off.

Things happen no matter how careful we try to be.

Rgds

Fred

dr bob

Amen my brother Fred! With many years of accumulated experience now, my list is long and distinguised. The list isn't growing at its former blistering pace though. As much as I'd like to think that I'm getting smarter, reality is that I'm doing less car work, so fewer opportunities.

Stuff like this is a great demonstration of the power of community knowledge and support. Where the strange and mysterious phenomena are explained.

dan1066

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm just glad to add to the collective experience so the next guy who tries to rotate his engine with it in gear will find this thread when he does a search trying to figure out what is wrong. I know I've learned quite a bit from other people's troubles via this forum.

On a positive note, putting the car in neutral puts me one giant step closer to being able to start the engine again. With a fire extinguisher nearby...