Using damper for timing

[BROKINBIMMER]

I made a rookie mistake and set the timing with the dampener lined up with the mark on the timing belt cover. I now know that the correct way is to use line the crank up with he v in the block.

My question is, how much of a difference does this make? Also, is the only way to check the belt alignment to tear the front of the motor back down?

[EatsHondas]

I made a rookie mistake and set the timing with the dampener lined up with the mark on the timing belt cover. I now know that the correct way is to use line the crank up with he v in the block.

My question is, how much of a difference does this make? Also, is the only way to check the belt alignment to tear the front of the motor back down?

If using the timing cover mark is a mistake, that's news to me. I lined up the cam gear with the mark on the block, and the dampener with the lower timing cover and everything has been fine for me. I've put hundreds of enthusiastic miles on her since then and everything's still going swimmingly. The engine's definitely in correct time.

The dampener can only be put on one way, so using it to time the belt is perfectly acceptable. There's a a tiny peg sticking out of the crank to ensure this.

I've got friends that have done the job the exact same way with equal success. Where did you learn that this method is wrong?

[BROKINBIMMER]

A fellow r3ver said to use the mark on the crank and line it up with the v in the block.

[EatsHondas]

A fellow r3ver said to use the mark on the crank and line it up with the v in the block.

Ah okay. I don't know if he's right or wrong, but I can certainly vouch for the way we both did it.

[BROKINBIMMER]

Anyway to check the timing other than ripping apart the front of the motor?

[jlevie]

The only possible issue with using the balancer to time the crank is making sure that you are using the correct mark.

[BROKINBIMMER]

Will tear down tonight and report back

[BROKINBIMMER]

Ok, didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would to pull hood, rad, coolant hoses, dist cap, tb covers.

Belt is advanced exactly one tooth. Any chance I did serious motor damage?

[jlevie]

There should not be any damage. Just fix the timing error.

[BROKINBIMMER]

There should not be any damage. Just fix the timing error.

Thanks for the help man, I'm reassembling now.

[EatsHondas]

It would probably run one tooth off, just very badly. Good thing you caught it though.

[BROKINBIMMER]

Still sounds like ass. And no, it's not the typical valve noise the m20 is known for. The motor literally sounds like a diesel truck motor. Not sure what else to do at this point.

[EatsHondas]

It's either still not in time or you're not firing on all cylinders. Make sure all your spark plug boots are firmly attached at both ends AND they're in the correct spots on the cap. Mismatched wires will cause diesel-y, subaru-y sounding misfires.

[offsetmotorwerks]

Take off the valve cover and make sure it all looks kosher. (rockers, valves, etc). Had a customer come in with a broken rocker that made the car sound like a diesel.

[BROKINBIMMER]

It's either still not in time or you're not firing on all cylinders. Make sure all your spark plug boots are firmly attached at both ends AND they're in the correct spots on the cap. Mismatched wires will cause diesel-y, subaru-y sounding misfires.

I did 4 full revolutions with a ratchet on the crank before reassembly. It is timed correctly at this point. I'm going to double check the ignition wires to confirm they have clean connections and are not arcing.

Take off the valve cover and make sure it all looks kosher. (rockers, valves, etc). Had a customer come in with a broken rocker that made the car sound like a diesel.

The rockers are all intact, just adjusted the valves to spec last week.

Should I adjust the valves a second time since retiming the belt?