Hot Rods Flathead Crankshaft Gear timing mark

I'm getting ready to install my Merc crank in to my block when I realized there in no timing dot to match up to the Cam gear dot. Is there any way to figure out the correct position of crack without the mark?

 

Is there a mark hiding behind the oil slinger? Might need to take off the wear sleeve and slinger.

 

Is the timing gear installed backwards? Been known to happen... been there and done that.

 

No mark under the slinger as I can see the whole gear all the way around with a flash light. Also checked to see if there was a mark on the backside. Nothing there either.

 

Look up threads by member @GordonC on this forum. IIRC, he had a similar problem that gave him fits.

Maybe he'll see this thread and chime in.

 

Well, yes you can still time it. The crank needs to be at TDC for any cylinder, and the cam needs to be at "split overlap" for that same cylinder where both the intake and exhaust tappets are raised the same amount. Turning the cam either direction a bit causes one tappet to rise and the other to fall. Mating the crank and cam gears in this position will be correct valve timing.

 

I have another crack from a different BA, and it's also missing the dot. WTH?

 

The mark should be on the third tooth clockwise from the keyway in the gear.

 

Note the keyway in the gear and its key in the crank do NOT line up with the key for the pulley. The gear key is 180 degrees from the pulley key.

 

Thanks Chicken. I'll mark it tonight.

 

Sorry I was on the road for the last 10 days and didn't see this until now.. I did have this issue and had to tear my motor down as the cam gear was installed backwards by the builder. Once I flipped it around I was able to time it correctly.

 

It's surprising a builder would get that backward since there's a BIG chamfer on the back side that clears the crank radius.