What is the special knack needed to set the timing on this car. I cant see the marks on the flywheel to know when it is close to the right position.Tried using mirror but its too dark and I cant get light into the area at the same time.Does anyone know what I can do to get this thing going?
Appreciate any help I can get
Thanks
Ken

Where Are You From? Kamloops B C Canada

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 durant-deluxe rumble seat coupe

Welp, to get it going withought the timing mark, take the spark plugs out and hand crank the motor until #1 and #6 are at top dead center, the valves on # 6 are just closing and opening respectivly when # 1 is on TDC compression (i'm thinking that you can see both the valves and piston through the spark plug hole)Anyway, note the position of #1 wire on distributor, pull cap and rotor should be pointing to this position, loosen distributor and turn distributor in opossite direction of rotor rotation until points just crack...Firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4 , wires should be in this order around the cap in the direction of dist/rotor rotation. Bill

Where Are You From? Leavenworth, WA / Yuma, AZ

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes,

Cant see a darned thing in there --too dark and I dont think I can see the pistons-- . Just have to pull the no. 1 plug and feel for pressure I guess. Back to the drawing board. seems like the more I do -the more I have to do -- Thanks anyway Bill--good idea if I could see the pistons.
Ken

Ken, The instruction manual for our A-22 engines tells you to stick a screw driver in number one spark plug hole and hand crank engine until you feel the piston come to the top..Don't know if I would recomment that procedure on your engine or at least using a screw driver... I thought you would be able to see the piston with a flashlight, you can on the W-5 engine.

Hey Ken, I see you made it back safely from Maricopa,...You must not have gotten picked up by old sheriff Joe while peddling those extra Durant Parts down there.
Take care.

Where Are You From? Leavenworth, WA / Yuma, AZ

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes,

just lucky I guess--Didnt run into old Joe- Seems like he is a good warden to have around--wish there were a few more like him up here.
I figure to use a pencil or a slim wooden dowel rather than a screw driver . Actually if you stick a finger in the hole and crank it around you should be able to feel the pressure That will get it close and then the pencil trick to fine tune it . I will work something out.

That sounds like a good idea...But if for some reason that doesn't work we still have another backup plan, but that would require pulling the valve cover and watching the tappets on #6.

Where Are You From? Leavenworth, WA / Yuma, AZ

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes,