Timing Belt

[Durty Thurty]

I was using the rv3 timing belt diy and it didnt say in there to line up the engine to tdc before taking the belt off. so i pulled the belt off and got the new one on. my concern is that the engine might have moved, i dont think it did but want to be sure. Also whats the proper way to reinstall the harmoic balancer gear to and to make sure thats all lined up. TIA

[Sagaris]

The harmonic balancer gear goes on 1 way, just wiggle it a bit while installing it to ensure that it goes on properly, it seemed mine wanted to mount crooked , which probably would have been sorted out when I tightened the pullies on but you just want to make sure.


I do not know the proper way to get things sorted out when you forget to align it before you remove it, but you might try getting a protractor, pencil, and paper (or preferably bust out your SOHCAHTOA skills and a digital caliper/measuring tape) and with the usual timing marks as 0 degree reference points, measure the angle between the mark (reference point) and the arrow on the cam gear going counter clockwise.

(PICTURE OF THE "ARROW" FOR REFERENCE, in this picture the angle between the arrow and the mark/reference point would be zero degrees)


Say that the cam arrow is 45 degrees from the mark; the harmonic balancer mark would then need to be 90 degrees away from the timing mark since 2 crankshaft rev. = 1 camshaft rev. in order for you to have confidence in re-installing the belt and rotating everything to where it needs to be.


I hope this makes sense or that someone has a better way of helping you out .

[jlevie]

The last step in a timing belt changes is to rotate the engine (by turning the crank bolt) through two revolutions to see if the marks line up. In this case you'd want to rotate the engine at least two turns since we don't know what the alignment is now. if the marks line up, you are good to go. Otherwise the error and fix will be obvious.

[llll1l1ll]

Why don't you just line the two up with the belt off?

If the crankshaft rotates twice per camshaft, then you can just line up the crank to where it would be TDC, and then line the cam up where it would be TDC.

Not exactly the most accurate or safe, but it worked for me once when I was young and dumb.

[nando]

you can't turn the crankshaft 360 degrees and leave the cam alone. you'll smash pistons into valves.

However, you could turn the crankshaft a few degrees, then rotate the cam, and repeat, until you get them lined up.