how to FIND a pistons Top Dead Center on the COMPRESSION STROKE (using a balloon)

[@BenjaminOsborne-zo2it]

Excellent video! This was by far the best explanation on how to find TDC. Thanks man!

[@craftshark3221]

This great mechanic tip reminds me of best tool maker I ever worked with who said " If it ain't gravy , you're doing it wrong " ; )

[@cristianalvarez762]

I owe you for this video, i had to redo my timing from scratch on my f150. Months later and this balloon trick did it for me. She is running bueatifully now

[@jhawkins4412]

That was the most helpful and cheapest solution to finding TDC that I have found on the e-net! 😉 Thanks so much!

[@KW-qd8gu]

This is genius. It’s tough to find TDC on compression stroke anyway, but it’s really hard when you’re by yourself like I am. I was trying to figure out how to rig up a whistle, never even thought of a balloon. Thanks!

[@randallnafus3291]

I literally come up with this on my own today. Took an old sparkplug wire. Pulled the boot off of it. Then took a glove and tied one of the fingers over the boot. So I had to see if anyone else ever came up with that idea. And here we are. Lol

[@bobmurphy9380]

This video help me to get my 1990 Talbot Express to fire correctly. I now have a priceless balloon in my tool box. Unfortunately if you can't plug your motor in to a laptop the younger mechanic hasn't a clue how to get older & vintage motors running. A balloon, who'd have thought it!

[@randallnafus3291]

Great minds think alike dude. My distributor bracket broke and knocked my 99 Cherokee out of time. Broke down along the roadside. Looking at what i had on hand. (Humming inspector gadget to myself) I seen a spare set of plug wires and rubber gloves. So i took a boot off one of the wires. Tapered one end of it with a razor knife so it would fit nice. Grabbed a glove and slide the other end of the boot into a finger. Tied it and took some grease and put it on the tip. It fit perfectly. So id turn the pulley than check the boot. When i saw the finger filled with air. I set my timing notch in line with my timing marks. Adjusted distributor accordingly set it in place. Stripped the rest of the plug wire. Wrapped it around the base of the distributor nice and tight. Cut a piece of exhaust hanger to sit over the break. ran the wire through the hole wrapped around the screw. Tighten everything up. Nothing moved. Crossed my fingers and turned the key. Sometimes i amaze even myself. 😅 So i just had to see if anyone has done anything similar. This is the closest ive found so far. My only question is. Did someone show you or did you just think of it?

[@INTERNA9]

Thanx again.

[@KK_on_KK]

Dude, this is an amazingly amazing idea. Not even joking.

[@livefree6878]

👍

[@MGDRIVING]

If you mark the pulley at each top of the two strokes, then measure the distance between the two and divide in half then mark that as TDC (middle of the two strokes)? Does this work as well?

[@Ziade_Garage]

This is genius!!! Good stuff dude!!

[@tinotendayunmzes243]

Very helpful

[@madetohelpyou]

Video is great but its nice to let folks know where u got the tool etc. Not everyone will figure this out. Otherwise excellent job. Thx

[@christiancordero4060]

What!! Genius thanks.

[@mac1mike]

hahahahaha, i just saw a thumbnail of this and had to come in and say "GENIUS"

[@thelogic7664]

What you mean by 50-50 chance to find compression stroke. Is that during exhost stroke the exhost valve opens then there won't be any pressure in the cylinder and that baloon may not inflated.

[@acetech9237]

You still need to check your timing marks. Then you know you're not 180 out is what I think he means by 50/50. Or I would at least hope so because doing a timing belt there is no 50/50 anything

[@tinotendayunmzes243]

I like the stick one

[@jonkraft410]

U SOB great job

[@billrau2398]

Awesome video where can I get that toy you are using?

[@joeespisito9200]

Ok so for people who need to do this AND DONT HAVE THE BELT ON .the cam has a marker that position s the cyl 1 valves TO BE CLOSED...so.turn cam shaft clockwise and line it up.... .then when you manually turn the crank shaft it will ALWAYS BE ON A COMPRESSION STROKE WHEN IT COMES UP AT TDC...JUST HAVE A LONG SCREWDRIVER IN SPARK Plug FOR CYLINDER ONE AND SPIN CRANK SLOWLY UNTIL THE SCREWDRIVER STOPS RISEING.....THAT IS TDC....THEN PUT YOUR BELT ON .DONE.

[@onfirecinemas]

what is the adaptor tube thing made up of so we can create it!

[@Anon_PK]

I think we can obtain that from tyre inflator air compressor.. That has gauge too and can be use for other compression tests also

[@Anon_PK]

Or you can use spark plug cable (rubber tube)🤓

[@RIKOHDOUBLEOG]

I did this . And my engine literally exploded💥💣 dude 😢 I followed it step by step I had a small water ballon and everything bro . Now I have to bike🚴‍♂️ it to work. I guess it was a 50/50 chance .

[@bentramell729]

We're your cams lined up to their marker? If you had the belt off for any reason you have find TDC on compression stroke and then realign your cams to their markers so the valves are closed. Otherwise you're a turn off and engine will be destroyed.

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

A 50/50 chance of getting it right? That's helpful.

[@dylanmason4620]

I know right? Wtf

[@RcFlyer49]

@@DJgoon12 You're right. This technique is pretty clever and I don't want people dismissing the video because this comment is taken out of context.

[@enriquerodriguez1804]

👍 Thanks

[@j.santosh.l.6386]

Why 50/50 chance? You said the Ballon will not inflate on exhaust stroke.

[@joshrebeiro8017]

50/50 chance without the ballon is what he meant, i just rebuilt my supermoto engine and i just did this. timed it on the exhaust stroke. won’t build compression to start. this ballon idea is ingenious. you know you have compression when the ballon is blown up abit, the finger trick works too or a cork but the ballon is fool proof.

[@j.santosh.l.6386]

@@joshrebeiro8017 Yes bro. Thank you !!

[@INTERNA9]

nice

[@maniacalmonster2293]

Why not just cover the hole with your hand and feel the pressure?

[@kaseone6896]

I tried doing this balloon test and turned the engine about 4 times and balloon sucks in air but doesn’t fill up with air. Please help!! What does this mean!’??

[@Afrorack]

May be your valves are not sealing on the compression stroke..

[@derekswafford8833]

no compression

[@buster53546]

Lmfao and the Oscar for best actor goes to kase one

[@BruceAllentools]

if you cant get the engine to fill your balloon, then you may need to use your mouth to do it. hope this helps!!

[@hostilityy]

sweet video. but please don't rotate your engine the other way.

[@tonybreeze8516]

This looked like TDC for the cylinder nearest to the front of the car, which in my Suzuki GV is cylinder number four. We need to be careful and check which cylinder is classed as number one. The info should be in your manual.

[@jmartin567]

will a condom work,,,just joking nice video

[@frankdavidson9675]

as long as it is new and not used (OLO)

[@dillonellis3763]

It’s actually a 1/4 chance…

[@vdavis1959]

I just put a wine cork in the spark plug hole. when compression stroke comes up, it will pop out and then place the timing mark to exact TDC.

[@michaelhayward7790]

If the engine isn't a straight block, do I start at the far left cylinder or the far right cylinder,?

[@vdavis1959]

@@michaelhayward7790 The one closest to the Timing cam/belt. That would be # 1 cylinder from what I've seen and read. I just put a wine cork in it and when it pops out that means your coming up to the compression stroke.

[@michaelhayward7790]

@@vdavis1959 Legand thanks mate!

[@WesRosey]

I was out of option on my jeep xj and I just unscrewed the spark plugs and set them in their hole and same thing! Glad I’m not the only one. Just have to learn how to accurately get it to Tdc now

[@johngranato2673]

Best way is to pull valve cover and look at number 1 valves--believe me

[@davidgruen7423]

Yeah right, try that on v6, you can’t even see the valve cover until you take off the intake plenum.

[@johngranato2673]

@@davidgruen7423 I didn't say it was easy, David.

[@davidgruen7423]

@@johngranato2673 you didn’t say it’s hard either, and it certainly sounds easy from you, lol

[@bentramell729]

50 50 chance? Well thats hardly helpful lol I need it on compression stroke smh

[@frankdavidson9675]

i just use marks on mycrank pully TDC with deg s each side easy

[@billrau2398]

Tool

[@tobberfutooagain2628]

Just use your damn thumb.....