VH4D last ditch effort close?

On my way out I had another idea that I had to try before I left for a week or so here's what i did, hand turned the engine until each cylinder reached TDC and plugged the wires in correctly before installing the plugs I inserted small deep dish sockets in each cylinder hole and studied the rotation / pumping of the cylinders, at that point I noticed when each cylinder reached TDC the plugs were sparking but not until the piston reached TDC and was on its way back down. At that point I found TDC of number one , left it there , pulled the mag and turned the coupler reinstalled, pulled the mag turned the coupler reinstalled , again and again and again until I got what I wanted. So at this point when each piston reaches TDC the plug assigned to that cylinder sparks and wouldn't you know it my firing order is 1342 I think I'm finally understanding this however, the only thing that doesn't add up is I had to turn the mag coupler to achieve spark at the right time and in doing that the X on the mag gear is no where to be found thru the site glass. This is my last shot if this doesn't work I'm done but I would think I'm close ? My worry is the mag is now not timed to the inner parts in which I won't touch?

There are FOUR points on the mag gear where the "X" COULD be stamped.... depending upon which high-tension terminal you select as #1.

It"s NOT written in stone as to which has to be #1 at the start of the firing order sequence.

As long as the mag fires each cylinder at TDC in firing order while being cranked all is WELL. When the engine "catches" and speeds up and the impulse drops out, it will advance the spark to running timing.

It MUST fire @ TDC, NOT before, or the engine will "kick back". If it fires much AFTER TDC, it will be hard to start and running timing will be "late".

10-4 bob I think I have it I"m pretty sure the spark occurs when the piston is at TDC and it kinda sits there for a couple cranks then starts down. Spark happens when it"s sitting there still before the down stroke, but trust me I will look again before trying next week, thanks Scott

Can you snake a plastic drinking straw down through the sparkplug hole to the piston and watch it rise as the piston comes up to TDC? (I"ve done that often, but NOT on a Wisconsin, NOT sure if it can be done or if the sparkplug is offset from the bore, too far over the intake valve.

I was actually able to insert a small diameter deep socket and it did pretty well I put 4 of them in all 4 holes and turned it by hand and watched the rotation. That's how I determined TDC I think I'm pretty close.

If you set sockets in the sparkplug holes they are sitting on the intake valves and you are monitoring the valves going up and down, rather than the pistons!

Things are starting to make sense now!

(Typically, the sparkplugs on "flathead" engines are over the intake valve area, rather than in a typical "overhead valve engine", where the sparkplugs are over the piston area... in a "hemi" they are exactly centered over the pistons.)

That would explain why timing/the pistons coming to the top seems to be "off" from the timing marks!!!

The valves lift only a quarter-inch or so, if you were monitoring the pistons with a bent straw (if possible), as I suggested you would be seeing the whole stroke of the piston, 3.25"!

<img src = "http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u125/27Grainfield/Stuff/VH4D_zpsaacf0faa.png">

Here is a bottom view of a VH4D head, and you can clearly see that the sparkplug hole is over one of the valves, the intake in each cylinder, I believe, someone correct me if that"s not correct!

You GOTTA get a straw or a wire angled over and on top of the piston to find TDC, what you have been doing, mistaking the valves for the pistons is causing you to believe PISTON TDC is a quarter to a half-turn from where it actually is, and causing you to have the timing so far off it won"t start!

"the spark occurs when the piston is at TDC and it kinda sits there for a couple cranks then starts down"

This quote from an earlier post of your's further indicates you are monitoring a VALVE, rather that the piston!

When the intake valve "starts moving down" the piston is (more or less) at BOTTOM DEAD CENTER, 180º BEFORE TDC, where you want it to be when spark occurs!

Don't get upset, you are learning, and I am simply stating the facts of what is going on, NOT criticizing you!

That makes sense, I will try that thanks

Bob, your kidding right? me upset? I appreciate all the help you and Hal and a few others have given me on this, I don't work on engines all the time and certainly not that well versed in how an engine even works. Your right I am learning and its kinda fun , no offense taken much respect and appreciation from me to you and the others.
Scott