Timing belt Quick Question

[Devilsfutbol17]

I was following a guide to change my timing belt, but it didn't mention setting everything to TDC before removing the timing belt. I need to remove my balance shaft belt and the vfaq says to make sure the timing marks on the camshafts are still lined up before you do the balance shafts. Mine aren't lined up right now.

Can I turn the cams by hand to line the dowels straight up without turning the cranksaft sprocket? The mark on the crankshaft sprocket is at about 10 o'clock right now, so not at TDC.

 

[everydaydriven]

Yes to an extent. Start to feel them getting tight like metal rubing, ###### wouldnt try any much more. But when taking a timing belt off Exhaust cam is know for turning counterclockwise somewhat. When putting back togeather rember to set that exhaust cam one tooh ahead as for when the timing tensioner is released everything sould set into postion.

 

[19Eclipse90]

If you've got it down that far already, the wisest approach is to remove the camshafts, line up the crankshaft timing marks, and reinstall the camshafts with the dowel pins closest to 12 o'clock as possible. That will put everything in the correct position mechanically and risks absolutely nothing with regards to valve-piston interference -- not to mention it will take less than a half hour to do. Of course there are other ways to go about it, but that's what I would do.

 

[rlacasse1]

Put the crankshaft sprocket 1/4 of a turn or 90 degrees off it's timing mark. If you do that you wil be able to move the cams all you wnat and there will be no interference whatsoever.

 

[Devilsfutbol17]

Thank you for your replies, I think I got it now. But now I have a new problem, the belt is sliding toward the passenger side on the cam gears. It's actually hanging off a the cam gear a little bit. I pushed it back but it started to slip again.

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[rlacasse1]

You know what, I remember my brothers gsx doing that. The belt always rode like that. We never figured out why. It would just overlap the gear by like 1/16 of an inch or so. It was weird.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Here's some threads to give you some ideas.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/297043-timing-belt-moving-outer-side-cam-gears.html
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/340921-timing-belt-problems.html

 

[jo_91gs]

I remember I had a 91 gs that had that problem. It was about 4 years ago. It's timing belt would ride flush on the cam edges towards the passenger side. I didn't worry about or payed too much attention because I didn't think it was a big deal. I eventually replaced the timing belt with the timing kit (pullies and all) and it was centered after that.

 

[Devilsfutbol17]

Thank you for all your replies. After looking at those other threads, I investigated the tensioner pulley and I think I had it on backwards. I put the lip on the outside(drivers side) instead of putting it up against the motor. I'm going to go and flip it and see if that does the trick.

Yeah that did the trick. Thank for all of your help, hopefully the rest of the assembly goes smoothly.