Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): tecumseh snowblower motor cam position, nylon gear, cam gear

Question
Hello Michael. I have an older motomower snow thrower 6 hp. The govenor was stuck wide open and I had found that there is a small nylon gear (from what I could make of it) inside the motor housing. When I removed the side of the motor, the cam gear fell out and the pushrods for the valves fell out. The springs of the valves stayed in and I had put the pushrods back in. The problem is, what is the position of the cam gear to the crank gear? The only markings on either of the gears I was only able to find was in the cam gear, it has a small notch in it, but on the crank gear there is nothing. I have tried to line the notch on the cam to the key slot on the crank but when I try to pull it over the pullchord rips from my fingers every once and a while like the valves arent opening properely and the compression has no where to go so my guess is that the timming is still way out. I hope this is enough info, and hope you can help. Thanks in advance!

Answer
Hi Helmut,

There should be marks somewhere, that match up.  Sorry, I can't point you right to the answer.
You're right, it does seem that the timing is off now.  As a last resort you can time the spark with a slightly before top dead center position of the piston.

Good Luck,
Michael