Cambelt time!

[Wobba]

Right, I am now onto another major part of putting the head back on: The timing belt!

I want to get this straight to make sure I dont fuk it up.

I have pistons 1 & 4 at tdc under the head. The head cam pulleys say they are both at 12 o'clock, though I think one of them may need tiny adjusting.

Question 1: How do I crank just a single cam to get it positioned perfectly?

Question 2: Although I have the crank pulley at 6 o'clock and marked up in line with both marks, do I have to make sure the special tool is in the tdc bit to stop any movement? I don't really understand this. I don't have any special tool...

3. Lining up the marks on the gearbox. Is this simply a case of cranking the engine? Does it need to be in gear? Dont get it...

[Chris H]

turn the cams with your hands or if your a girl a spanner on the bolt.

Don't bother your arse with the locking tool, if its lined up its fine, theres probably even marks on the new belt which you can line up with the marks on the pulleys to take out the guess work.

[Wobba]

I have tried turning them by hand, to no avail! I must be a girl :(

[Chris H]

if they have been sitting for a while they can be stiff especially if theres the usual sitting for a while coating of rust.

Just turn it slightly with a spanner to line them up.

[Wobba]

I'll give it a go, thanks :D

[Wobba]

Which direction are the arrows sposed to go on the belt?

[Robb]

Clock wise. I found using the little metal clamp used for claming the battery down was useful! I used a screw from the cam cover and tightened it onto the pulleys to keep them still as they flick over just as theyre bang on right

[number1]

Usually these days the belts have white lines on them to indicate timing positions, ive done countless belts and only locked a crank once, its the pulleys that move around when there bang on! put a 15/16mm spanner on the end and move them slightly, Top tip tho dont put the belt right on the pulleys until the belt is on all the pulleys and tensioners, leave it overhang as much as possible, helps you get them on, just push the belt on once your happy with the marks being in the right place

Always crank the engine over at least twice once the belt is on to make sure no valve piston relationships are occuring..

When i think ive got the tension about right i fire it up for about 5 seconds, switch it off and recheck tension

[number1]

Oh btw the writing on the belt should be outwards i.e you can read the writing.

[summeh]

make sure you crank it over by hand with a spanner/wrench on the crank pulley a few times, i.e. not with the starter motor! So long as the lines/notches all line up then your set.

From memory I think it takes 4 complete turns of the crank for the lines to line up once again on the cam pulleys (you'll see what i mean).