Timing marks off!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 10 Oct 2012, 22:27

Yes and yes. It obviously turns much easier with the spark plugs out.

...Lee

eivashchenko · Post by **eivashchenko** » 10 Oct 2012, 22:47

this is weird; after a few cranks of the breaker bar in either direction, something stops it. i'm too nervous to try and strong arm it. do you guys know what that is?

Post by **erikv11** » 10 Oct 2012, 23:28

You are probably fine but it is wise to be nervous about it until you feel comfortable with the timing belt job.

If the timing is set correctly, then what is "stopping it" would be the compression building in the cylinders. So the way to test that is by pulling the spark plugs out. When they are out, no compression can build up and the crank will proceed more easily and uniformly.

Pull all 5 plugs, then do the rotation. If it is smooth then check the marks again, and button it up. But if anything still stops/interferes with rotating the crank, don't force it.

eivashchenko · Post by **eivashchenko** » 10 Oct 2012, 23:46

I pulled the plugs before I started working on everything. Do you know what else it could be, by chance?

Post by **erikv11** » 11 Oct 2012, 00:03

It could be just the cams working against the normal tension of the valve springs, but that shouldn't be too much resistance.

Are you totally sure the cams are on the marks, and the crank is on the mark? Can you post up a pic of the cam sprockets and their marks?

eivashchenko · Post by **eivashchenko** » 11 Oct 2012, 00:07

most definitely. getting it now.

Post by **erikv11** » 11 Oct 2012, 00:09

I'm also wondering now, are you certain you have the correct crank mark? It is small. Which type is it, the single notch in the valley or the two notches up on the crank teeth?

eivashchenko · Post by **eivashchenko** » 11 Oct 2012, 00:30

Couldn't get the shot of crankshaft, but the bump on the inside of the crankshaft lines up perfectly with the notch on the other side. they're both a tooth or two away from TDC.

Both indicators run along a valley, if that's any help.

Post by **erikv11** » 11 Oct 2012, 00:45

Yeah, those marks look good. And everything was lined up the same way like that, when you started?

What about the three bolts that hold on the cam sprockets, the triangle they form should be pointing down on the intake side (with the flat base on the top and parallel to the upper timing belt) and perfectly inverted on the exhaust (so pointing up)?

Post by **erikv11** » 11 Oct 2012, 00:52

And this is all just a timing belt job, right? Like in the cam cover didn't come off or anything.

It seems like it all checks out, then you should not be meeting resistance and I am stumped. The only thing I can think of to test next would be to take off the tensioner, take off the belt, ensure the crank is on the mark and see if the cams can rotate freely, without any feel of bent valves. The valve springs do provide tension so a free cam sort of goes in jerks as it rotates, but still it will rotate smoothly and without interference.

I guess the other thing is, maybe you are just encountering the normal resistance of the valve springs. I mean, the crank won't spin like butter or a bicycle crank, you do have to give it a little force. But you shouldn't feel any clunks or what seems like contact. Are you using a breaker bar on the 30 mm nut or a short little ratchet?

Timing marks off!

Re: Timing marks off!