72 360 first start question
ok I'll give it another go tomorrow. So if my springs aren't moving like you said what would that indicate? The springs are dead on exactly at at TDC. I'll look at it again and note when each springs starts to move after TDC exactly. This one's not going down easy, thanks for the help.
Let me give you more procedure detail to work with:
1. DON'T look at the timing mark on the crankshaft until step 4. Turn the crank CW and watch #1 exhaust valve & spring. As you rotate the crank, the exhaust valve will open (spring compresses), peak out at maximum opening and then start to close (spring opens up).
2. At this point, slow down your rotation speed waaay down to a few degrees per movement of the crank, and watch the exhaust closing AND watch for the intake valve and spring to start opening. The intake will start to open before the exhaust is fully closed.
3. Stop at the exact point where the exhaust spring is compressed the same amount as the intake spring. You may have to slightly move the crank back and forth and measure the spring heights carefully to find this point.
4. When you find this point where intake and exhaust valve springs are compressed equally, measured as precisely as you can, THEN look at the mark on the crankshaft. It should be about 4 degrees in advance of TDC. If it is anywhere far off, then the cam is off some number of teeth.
This is supposed to be an approximate, quick check of cam timing, and, as said, depends on the lifters not bleeding off. (You have been given some tips on how to check for this.) I'll suggest at this point that if this procedure is not clear, you may be better off just taking off the timing cover and checking the dots on the sprockets.
Part of what may be confusing you is that there are 2 TDC events in a 4 cycle engine; in other words, TDC is reached TWICE in a complete cycle of the cam and valves. It sounds like you are finding the 'other' TDC point, where both valves are closed, and need to find the right one, where 2 valves are both open equal amounts. Find that point first, and then and only then look at the mark on the crank.