I'm currently building an st170 engine with hayabusa tb's on it , just wondering if anyone can give me some advice on timing the inlet cam, should i have the variable clutch in the anti clockwise or clockwise position.

any help would be great cheers

 

Just copy alignment from present position.
tabetha

 

thanks but not much help as timing belt was already off the engine when i bought it

 

I don't know which way these rotate, pm me on monday if I've not pm'd you as will find out, but you may need to jog my poor memory!!
tabetha

 

crankshaft rotates clockwise looking at pulley and inlet cam clutch turns anti clockwise to its rest position, which would i think retard the timing, just need to no whether to time it with clutch advanced or retarded, i spoke to local ford dealer and they said i would need diffrent special tools to the standard zetec tools

thanks stu

 

the pulley should be fully retarded clockwise

 

And its timed there with exactly the same 5mm plate for both cams and M8 pin for the crankshaft, so don't bother getting any more advice from that Ford Dealer.

Very early ST170 engines did have a sloppy inlet cam timing slot, that had to be packed with feeler gauges. Covered in a TSB for the timing proceedure ammending the TIS.

Martin

 

right so if inlet clutch is retarded in the clockwise position then how do i hold it there to put the belt on as even with the plate in the end of the cam the clutch automatically tries to go anticlockwise

 

Just forget that the inlet cam pulley has a hydraulic actuator in it. Set up the crankshaft at TDC with the timing pin, and the cams with the 5mm plate. Nip up the cam pulley bolts, check the tensioner setting. Remove the pin and plate. Rotate the crank at least 2 turns clockwise and stop at #1 TDC (using the timing pin). Check the plate slides into the cams and the tensioner is still correct. Repeat as necessary. Tighten cam pulley bolts to correct torque.

In other words, exactly the same as a normal Zetec-E. As I said before the only difference is if it is an early 2002 engine, then follow the TSB in the TIS.

Martin

 

spot on mate thats what ive done just hope its ok , sorry if ive sounded stupid but im more used to a diesel engine this is all new, thanks for your help stu

 

Very interesting.

 

No problem, everybody has to learn.

I've got an engine with an ST170 head with VVT deleted. Yet to findout if the static timing I've selected is near enough, let alone optimal. I blame the (ex)wife.

Martin

 

Hi... I am about to time up a Focus ST170 that currently has no belt on for reference. Just read these instructions and originally assumed you have to somehow pre-load the inlet cam, but it would appear that you dont?
If I time it the same as any zetec with my cam locking bar and tdc crank screw, will the vvt still work?

 

Yes, as I described in my 07/09 post.

The only other thing, if its an early one ~2002/3 build, is to also follow the TSB on this subject. Essentially the alignment slot on the inlet cam was too wide. So when the plate is inserted, feeler gauges are inserted in the front end of the slot to take all the clearance.

Martin

 

Brilliant.. not sure who started this 'pre-loading' myth but glad it isnt true.
Many thanks ... Feeler gauges on stand-by!