Intermediate shaft timing

2-3 heaven · Post by **2-3 heaven** » 15 Jun 2012, 11:57

I know on the B21FT with a block mounted distributor it runs off the intermediate shaft. I just did my timing belt, it had broken, and everything seemed to line up okay, except there was no mark for the dot on the intermediate shaft gear to line up with. I aligned it best I could with the line on the belt instead. The engine is running pretty rough now and quite rich. I guess long story short, can I just adjust the timing at the distributor to make up for the intermediate shaft gear being off a tooth or 2? Pretty sure that's the issue.

Post by **billofdurham** » 15 Jun 2012, 12:30

Going back to the days before timing belts that was how we adjusted the timing. Moving the distributor can't make large adjustments but for a degree or two it will work.

The timing mark for the intermediate shaft should be on the belt guard.

240 B21FT intermediate shaft marks.pdf: (151.47 KiB) Downloaded 420 times

Bill.

2-3 heaven · Post by **2-3 heaven** » 15 Jun 2012, 13:37

Thanks for the quick reply. And for the pdf. I was looking for the mark basically straight right. There is just a bunch of dings in it like someone whacked it a few times with a chisel. I didn't want to adjust it and then have to start all over. And I wanted to be sure that the shaft didn't also have anything to do with balance.

Post by **jimmy57** » 15 Jun 2012, 13:57

Not a balance shaft so you can move it as needed.

Bigblue · Post by **Bigblue** » 15 Jun 2012, 14:21

The mark for the intermediate shaft is a small "v" notch on the block, not the cover...It is at 3 o'clock, is a bit hard to see, and requires a little effort with a bright light...

Line up the camshaft at 12 o'clock, the intermediate shaft as I just told you, and the crankshaft, at 12 o'clock, THEN!!! put the belt on...After it is on and tensioned, all the marks should remain aligned with their indexes...

Bigblue · Post by **Bigblue** » 15 Jun 2012, 14:24

Sorry, I mis-typed...The intermediate shaft mark is at 4 o'clock, not 3 o'clock...

2-3 heaven · Post by **2-3 heaven** » 15 Jun 2012, 17:37

That'd be why I didn't see anything. Thanks. Had to pull the distributor and reinstall a gear off so that I had enough room to adjust the timing, but it set fine after that.