MG Car Repair: Missing timing marks, coat hanger, pulley

Question
I am trying to set the timing on my 1975 Midget (1500) and can not locate any timing marks on the pulley. How do I set the timing without them?


Answer
Hi Keith,
There is just a notch in both edges of the pulley. The timing marks are the pointers on the timing cover. Sometimes people paint the front pulley and paint or dirt fill in the notches so they are hard to see.
Pull #1 spark plug and put a piece of coat hanger or such straight down into the cylinder and slowly rotate the engine until you can feel that the piston is at the top (TDC) Then look at the pointers on the timing cover and note the long pointer and /or clean the pointers off and look for "0" or TDC, then scratch the edge of the pulley at the long pointer and you will find the notches in the pulley.
Howard