timing belt riding on edge of cam gears?

[secondgen_t]

What would cause the timing belt to ride on the inside edge of the cam gears? The motor has 50 miles on it since rebuild. The belt sits flush with the valve-cover side of the gears not in the middle of the gears. Any thoughts?

 

[wastefuldreamer]

its fine

 

[secondgen_t]

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean exactly by fine? I only ask because it appears abnormal to me and the fact that this is my first DSM . I just had this motor built with J&E pistons and a big 16G and have a few pennies wrapped up in this so I just want to be sure. I rechecked all the manuals and I dont think we overlooked anything when we installed the tensioners and related items so why would the belt not ride in the middle of the cam gears? If its truely OK just explain it to me so I can sleep at night. Thanks!

DREW

 

[xxdprussxx]

jsut watch the belt if it rubs agaisnt it it will wear and tear and eventually it will slip thats what happened to my laser well depends how much it rubs if it rubs good i would keep watching it

 

[secondgen_t]

It doesnt rub on anything it just sits off to the side on the cam gears. It doesnt hang off the edge of them. It sits flush.

 

[-TunedDSM-]

I just fired my 2g up for the first time. It has a fresh 6 bolt swap, all new bearings/tensioners.

The timing belt moves its way towards the valve cover, wearing down the brand new belt on the transmission side. What can cause this? Belt is definetly tensioned, and everything is new?

 

[-TunedDSM-]

anddd pics:

sorry for the JDM angles

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[steve]

Did you start with a new from motor mount/tensioner arm pivot or reuse an old one?

The belt walks because one of more of the pulleys isn't square to the belt and the difference in tension makes the belt walk.

Often it is because the tensioner arm or the pivot in the front mount are worn out and the tensioner pulley doesn't put even pressure on the belt.

Steve

 

[-TunedDSM-]

Thanks steve, i read that you wrote that in one of the other 5000 timing belt threads. I considered taht.

Right now im wondering one thing; are the keyways on the cams supposed to be completely flush with the cam gears?

My keyways sit back into the cam gear a bit. Im wondering if the cam seals need to be pounded in further. But then again, when i torqued the cam gears down i would assume it would seal/push the cam seal fully in?

 

[turborebel]

Do you have the tensioner pully with the two adjustment hols faceing out?

 

[steve]

Right now im wondering one thing; are the keyways on the cams supposed to be completely flush with the cam gears?

My keyways sit back into the cam gear a bit. Im wondering if the cam seals need to be pounded in further. But then again, when i torqued the cam gears down i would assume it would seal/push the cam seal fully in?

Don't know about the keyways, I assume you mean the dowel pins.

The FSM says how far to drive the cam seals in. It's been a couple of years since I did mine so I again don't remember. If the cams were hitting them I would think that would be pretty obvious by just looking at them.

Steve

 

[gsxin]

I had the same problem, ended up being the tensioner. oh yeah cost me $2000 to rebuild the head

 

[motomattxxx]

Make sure that the pulley with the flanges on them have the flanges toward the rear and that they are'nt installed backwards.

 

[-TunedDSM-]

did it end up being the tensioner pulley itself or the tensioner arM?

 

[knightrider4]

you might have the tensioner pulley on the wrong way if the lip is on the outside it will push the timing belt in like that. make sure you have it on the correct way

 

[5spdFTW]

my car does the same thing. i have a 2g talon esi and teh timing belt sits flush with the side of the cam gears closest to the valve cover leaving about 1/8 of an inch gap on the opposite side. the belt has no visible wear on it.

i have heard it is normal for this to occur in DSMs, but i am making sure cause i had a 1g eclipse slip a belt and trash the head. that belt did have wear on the valve cover side, so the guide was slipping i believe.

i want to make sure i dont need to do any timing work before i give it a little extra gas again

 

[super97gst]

my car does the same thing. i have a 2g talon esi and teh timing belt sits flush with the side of the cam gears closest to the valve cover leaving about 1/8 of an inch gap on the opposite side. the belt has no visible wear on it.

i have heard it is normal for this to occur in DSMs, but i am making sure cause i had a 1g eclipse slip a belt and trash the head. that belt did have wear on the valve cover side, so the guide was slipping i believe.

i want to make sure i dont need to do any timing work before i give it a little extra gas again

that's a totally normal thing for the t-belt on any engine to run to the valve cover side of the cam gears. i dont know what causes the belt to run on that side and not the other, but the important thing is that it is totally normal. my gst runs in the exact same spot.

 

[steve]

As long at it doesn't start walking off the end of the gears it's ok, for now.
It's the pressure across the belt that causes it to ride in one place or move.

The tensioner arm tends to wear over time and get cockeyed. That causes the tensioner pulley to sit skewed on the belt and the belt to move off center.

 

[5spdFTW]

well, i will check the belt when i do my normal maintenence things and make sure to note any wear on the inside edge of the belt.

 

[boosted86]

well my Timing belt seems to be riding on the edge of the timing gears( closest to Fender, away from th head) i just did my timing belt install. its not rubbing just riding on the edge of gear. also i had to use a washer to space my timing belt tensioner pulley, and there was a wierd whining noise that sounded to be coming from one on the pulleys( idler or tensioner) but has since gone away. thanks in advance.

 

[BrokenTsi]

Replace ALL timing components, idle pulley, tensioner pulley, tensioner arm...etc....

 

[blcknspo0ln]

Well first off, you shouldn't have to put a washer anywhere near your timing pulley. The added difference of that could add adverse tension on the belt and cause it to walk. In my experiences, when a belt is tensioned too tight, it will have a tendence to walk the same way you are describing it. Case in point, you need to redo your timing.

 

[pj91gsx]

you shouldnt need a washer for the tensioner pulley unless you put it on backwards. I put my pulley on backwards and it seized up, because it was hiting the tensioner bracket. it stressed my belt and made a loud screaching noise. nothing was hurt. send a picture of what you seeing it maybe more normal than you think

 

[boosted86]

ok well i went out and snapped some pictures, what do you guys think? also . im pertty sure the the belt is not that tight. i checked my tensioner gap like 4 times and i waited about 1 hour( to make sure the tensioner was fully set). i can also twist the belt 90* from the exhaust sprocket and tensioner pulley.

 

[silver bullit]

You need to check the tensioner pulley it looks like you put it on backwards.

Take off the cover and post a pic of it.