Need advice from experienced Windsor builder

[jwshira]

HPD, I understand about cams being ground as you describe, but all I did was pull a balancer off and put a new one on. I would have thought that if the timing mark lined up with zero on the old balancer, it would be the same on the new one. I'm not sure how the cam grind would affect that, but if I'm missing something, please give me a bit more explanation.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by jwshira

HPD, I understand about cams being ground as you describe, but all I did was pull a balancer off and put a new one on. I would have thought that if the timing mark lined up with zero on the old balancer, it would be the same on the new one. I'm not sure how the cam grind would affect that, but if I'm missing something, please give me a bit more explanation.

Here is the important piece of the puzzle. The new balancer is clearly wrong.
The original combo showed all the possibilities of any error did not exist.

And we all know that this not related to cam timing.

But just for your info, your first pass at kissing the piston stop is at 4 BTDC on the compression stroke.
Now when turn the engine backwards to strike the stop again, you are chasing the inlet valve opening point, and around 10 ATDC is the closest point for piston to valve clearance, coincidence?
I would find another stop that kisses earlier in the stroke, and repeat your tests. For example, if you get 46 BTDC ad 54 ATDC instead of 50 in both directions, then your balancer is still incorrect.

[jwshira]

Gaz64,
Did as suggested.
Got 16*BTDC, 24*ATDC
Still places pointer, when crank is turned 20* past the piston stop point, at 4*ATDC.
I've ordered an adjustable pointer that has 4* of adjustment, so I should be good to go.

Why is the degree scale on the balancer off?
Don't know, and I've concluded I don't care.
If the adjustable pointer lets me set the pointer to the zero mark when I know the piston is at TDC, I think I've got it covered.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and input.