Help correcting timing

[CorvallisBMW]

Now I know why the Bentley manual says to unbolt the vibration dampener before removing the t-belt tensioner.......The crank turns a little bit when you do! Fuck, I've lost my timing. The t-belt was disconnected from the camshaft when I unbolted the dampener, and now the are out of sync. WTF do I do? Bentley doesn't say how to fix this issue, and I can't just stick the crank at TDC cause it will hit the valves. Somehow, I have to align the crank with the camshaft's current position, or vise-versa. HELP!!!!!! what do I do?













I feel like such a noobie :(

[StereoInstaller1]

Shit, man...no big deal at all. You are gonna have to turn the crank AND the cam until you can turn things over..a bit of cam, a bit of crank, until you get it.

TDC Is NOT indicated with the toothed wheel, it is a "V" cut into the block near the crank. there is a white line on the crank (yours may be dirty, clean it) that indicates TDC. Yes, there is only one TDC, so if it lines up, you are golden.

The cam lines up on a line cast into the head. There is also only one TDC, so get to work!

Luke

[CorvallisBMW]

ok, gonna go out to the garage and see what I can do! I'm guessing there must be a mark on the cam sprocket to align with the line cast on the head?

[Keith M]

Did you get this fixed Derik?
The mark for the crank is on the lower timing cover. The cam has two 180º apart on the sprocket.
Call me if you need help.

Keith

[CorvallisBMW]

Ya I got it figured out, she's all back together and running like a champ now!

[mode]

You could have done it the easy way. 14 teeth (falling edge) after the 2 tooth gap, at the VR sensor.



Oh and when 1 is at TDC, #6 is at TDC on overlap. :)

[StereoInstaller1]

Did you get this fixed Derik?
The mark for the crank is on the lower timing cover. The cam has two 180º apart on the sprocket.
Call me if you need help.

Keith

Keith, you is wrong.

Do NOT use the timing mark on the outer timing belt cover, no matter what the bentley says, it is wrong.

Use the mark on the crankshaft! It is 100% easier, quicker, and is obviously what BMW intended.

Luke

[CorvallisBMW]

Luke's method was flawless, I can attest!

[Keith M]

Keith, you is wrong.

Do NOT use the timing mark on the outer timing belt cover, no matter what the bentley says, it is wrong.

Use the mark on the crankshaft! It is 100% easier, quicker, and is obviously what BMW intended.

Luke

And you are an old fuck!:D

I now have 3 motors in my shop (hopefully the newest addition will run) and will go look at them now to see what you are talking about.

Keith

[StereoInstaller1]

I may be old but your crank flops around.
Sooner or later I will be dead, but your crank will still be floppy.

You may someday get that motor running though.

Seriously enough, look under the timing belt cover, look at about 1:00 position, you will see a "V" cast into the aluminimumum...ratate crank, you will see a line right on the crankshaft...this work SO easy...buck the Fently!

Luke

[Keith M]

Hahahahahahaha!

Thanks Luke.

Keith

[Keith M]

Luke - I check the timing using your method on my "new Funk motor" then put the timing cover back on and the marks still line up correctly. Your "Fuck the Bentley" mentality if flawed.

Keith
Floppy crank, but still younger than you. (by 3 or 4 years, I think)

[StereoInstaller1]

Right...of course it lines up, it is just like 275,000% more hassle than doing it the way BMW obviously intended....you whippersnapper!

3 or 4 years younger than me still means OLD FUCK!

[Schniddy]

Shit, man...no big deal at all. You are gonna have to turn the crank AND the cam until you can turn things over..a bit of cam, a bit of crank, until you get it.

TDC Is NOT indicated with the toothed wheel, it is a "V" cut into the block near the crank. there is a white line on the crank (yours may be dirty, clean it) that indicates TDC. Yes, there is only one TDC, so if it lines up, you are golden.

The cam lines up on a line cast into the head. There is also only one TDC, so get to work!

Luke

I had the same thing happen to me today. The camshaft moved on me while the timing belt was off. I started to rotate the cam and the crank like suggested. Little bit of cam, little bit of crank. It seems like the tention suddenly increased on me for both bolts. I'm scared the valves are gonna hit.

So am I doing the right thing, should I keep turning them? Should I be turning one more than the other or what?

thanks in advance

[E30_fiend]

^^^^^^