Valve timing for MT 37 2 D

[my mt 372]

My service manual says the timing marks for the 372D are on the Gear case and the crank pulley but, I have been unable to find anything even close to timing marks, such as TDC, BTDC, ATDC or even a grove or prominent ridge on either the gear case or pulley.
Granted, it is very hard to see as there is precious little space to shine a work light on the case and pulley from any angle, including underneath, but if it is there I should be able to find it, even if my eyes are not what they use to be.

 

[my mt 372]

Thanks everyone for your input.
It has been many years since I did it, but, I can accurately time the engine and the injection pump without the timing marks even though it takes more time, effort and patience to do it.
The timing marks are put there to make the job a lot easier but, they are not essential to accomplish what needs to be done.

 

[Kernopelli]

I have never worked on a Mitsubishi KE70 but on their 3 cylinder engines, I seem to remember the mark on the case was approx. at the 3 o'clock position and is a sideways "T" shape. The index marks on the pulley are on the outer edge closest to the case.....can't remember if they are a round peened indention or solid line. If you are certain you can't locate any marks, the following might help. It describes how to find #1TDC on a 3 cylinder....you obviously just need the first 2 steps.


Finding TDC on 3 cylinder Engines
Head should be retorqued before valves are set
Ensure fuel shut off is in OFF position on Injection pump
Remove tappet cover
Find pointer on crank pulley
Watch #1 exhaust and intake valves while rotating engine clockwise
When exhaust valve begins to close and intake begins to open (ROCKING
POSITION)..rock engine back and forth to find the middle
Mark crankshaft pulley with permanent marker #1
Rotate 360 degrees – 1 complete turn – back to mark on crank pulley
Set #1 exhaust and intake valves
Watch #2 exhaust and intake valves while rotating engine clockwise
When exhaust valve begins to close and intake begins to open (ROCKING
POSITION)..rock engine back and forth to find the middle
Mark crankshaft pulley with permanent marker #2
Rotate 360 degrees– 1 complete turn– back to mark on crank pulley
Set #2 exhaust and intake valves
Watch #3 exhaust and intake valves while rotating engine clockwise
When exhaust valve begins to close and intake begins to open (ROCKING
POSITION)..rock engine back and forth to find the middle
Mark crankshaft pulley with permanent marker #3
Rotate 360 degrees– 1 complete turn– back to mark on crank pulley
Set #3 exhaust and intake valves

 

[my mt 372]

Darryl, Thanks for the info it was very much appreciated. That sounds like a good way to do it, especially if one is doing a valve adjustment. Years ago the distributor on my old yellow Jeep broke a dowel pin at the shaft causing the timing to go out and it would not start. I remember I used a wooden dowel on which I added marks showing the pistons length of travel and then inserted it after removing the spark plug from #1 cyl until it touched the top of the piston and then made another mark on the dowel at top of the head (spark plug hole). That would tell me how far (if any) I would have to rotate the engine to TDC. I would just watch the wooden dowel as it moved up, as soon as it began to go down I knew I just passed TDC so I would back it up until it was spot on, then make another mark on the dowel indicating TDC. The marks on the dowel also help with the BTDC and ATDC timing if that is required. I replaced the dowel pin, reinstalled the distributor at TDC, set the points at required specs and it fired up at first crank. Checked the timing with a strobe and it was right on the money.

Thanks again.