Timing a 89 xj 4.0 Problem

89 xj 4.0. Lined up 0 on the balancer. Checked distributor button. It is pointing about half inch past #1 post on distributor cap. Bought new chain and sprockets. Turned crank and cam and aligned marks on each. Button not pointed to #1. What has happened? Engine no start and back firing before repairs. PLEASE HELP!

ken johnson said:

89 xj 4.0. Lined up 0 on the balancer. Checked distributor button. It is pointing about half inch past #1 post on distributor cap. Bought new chain and sprockets. Turned crank and cam and aligned marks on each. Button not pointed to #1. What has happened? Engine no start and back firing before repairs. PLEASE HELP!

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Back it up a tooth or two.

With everything set to TDC #1 Firing (make sure you've got both valves closed!) the trailing edge of the rotor should be about even with the #1 HT post. Sounds like you're a tooth or two off on the dizzy.

As long as you're dead certain your cam and crank are properly timed, just adjust your dizzy until you get it set properly. Do bear in mind that the rotor will turn about 30-35* as it goes into the hole, due to the helix angle of the drive gear...

As 5-90 said, you if you are certain that you ARE NOT 180 degrees out.