How to advance timing?

[wyatt]

I have been searching online trying to find how to advance timing on my 1994 Suzuki Swift. It's a 1.3L, but it's basically the same SOHC engine as the 1.0L. I haven't found any good pictures that really show me what to do. I am stealing this picture from TeamSwift, but I wanted to know if I rotate the top or bottom pulley, and if I do so clockwise or counter-clockwise. I am changing my timing belt, so I figured it's a good time to give it a try. Thanks.

[ex-x-fire]

What type of retainers are on the gears? If the bottom is keyed, then an offset key would work(if one is available). What holds the top gear on? 3 or 4 bolts? 1 bolt & locating pin? Need to know engine rotation direction.
Ok lets say the engine rotates clockwise, & you are gonna be doing the adjustment on the cam gear to get the advancement. If the cam has a locating pin that goes through the cam gear, drill out the locating pin hole slightly(chevy V8s have kits that have off-set bushings), with everything back together, the gears lined up on the marks, the pin will be more towards the clockwise direction than before(adv. direction, opens valves sooner). If the pin is touching the left side of the hole then the cam is retarded. On the old domestic v8s, when the timing chain got worn & stretched, the cam is always retarded. You may have to make some marks to make sure your not overadjusting things.

[MadisonMPG]

Cam timing, or ignition timing?

Ignition timing is done by rotating the distributor, on the other side of the engine. Cam timing is done by a cam gear.

[wyatt]

Once again, the pictures are stolen from team swift. Mine are like this... sorry for the incomplete top gear picture. Rubber belt, 1 - 17mm bolt holding the top gear, 5 - 8mm bolts on the bottom. The reason I wonder is because people on here talk about advancing their timing by anywhere from 3 to 9 degrees, and they talk about it so casually that It seems to me it has to be something super simple like slipping the belt one notch, two notches, etc. The last picture shows the timing belt cover (not mine), but it will show you the 0 to 20, I wonder if that's the advancement...

[wyatt]

Originally Posted by MadisonMPG

Cam timing, or ignition timing?

Ignition timing is done by rotating the distributor, on the other side of the engine. Cam timing is done by a cam gear.

excellent question, I have no idea. I'll look in my chiltons manual to see if I can find anything, unless there is something I can just look for. My car is fuel injected if that helps.

[MadisonMPG]

Originally Posted by wyatt

excellent question, I have no idea. I'll look in my chiltons manual to see if I can find anything, unless there is something I can just look for. My car is fuel injected if that helps.

I am asking you, which one do you want to do?

You know the 2 bolts on the side of the distributer? Loosen them (I think they're 12mm) and rotate it a little to the right (when looking from the driver's side to passenger side). Test drive, do a 4th gear pull at WOT up a hill, listen for a "ping" like marbles sorta. If you don't hear it, advance more until you do. Then retard the timing a little by turning it left, retest to make sure it doesn't ping. You will have to change the timing based on fuel and air temp/density.

[wyatt]

I see. Now you can see how clueless I was. When you say "to the right", do you mean "clockwise"? maybe it will be more obvious when I go look. Thanks.

[MadisonMPG]

Originally Posted by wyatt

I see. Now you can see how clueless I was. When you say "to the right", do you mean "clockwise"? maybe it will be more obvious when I go look. Thanks.

Yes. There are pictures over at the Geo forum, but I'm too busy to find them.

[wyatt]

Thanks, enjoy spring break!

[thatguitarguy]

I counted 40 teeth on the timing gear of a 1.0, so moving the belt one notch should result in a 9 degree change. I haven't done this, so check with people who know more about this before going on what I say.