I could really use your help here guy’s . I’m changing the timing belt on my completely stock 1990 Integra . So far I have aligned up the timing mark’s before removing the belt (the single crankshaft mark lined up to the lower timing belt cover and both camshaft mark’s lined up perfect) I’ve removed the belt and installed the new belt , rotated the crankshaft and now when i re-align the crankshaft mark , both camshaft’s are out by two teeth on their TDC marking’s . So the question is how do I go about realligning everything and what did i possibly do wrong with the removal and installation to throw the camshaft’s off by two teeth ??? Any help would be greatly appreciated !
Are you following the steps outlined in your Helms manual? Typically it’s a little hard the first time you do it since you’re not familiar, but a little common sense usually helps you figure it out in the end.
It’s not in the instructions, but I like to hold the cams in placed with a 5mm diameter length of metal (a small screwdriver works well). There’s a hole in the cam holders and it corresponds to a hole in the cams. Slide the screwdriver thru both and it’ll hold the cam in place where they need to be at TDC. Also, if you’re having a hard time getting the teeth on the cam gear to line up with the belt you can use a wrench/ratchet on the end of the camshaft to rotate it slightly to get it to align. Obviously if the cam is being held in place by the screwdriver this won’t work. Some combo of holding the cam in place and rotating it slightly if needed is usually how I get it to line up.
Also, Make sure you slip the belt over the exhaust cam side first, working your way towards the intake side. This ensures that the slack will be on the tensioner and taken up by it when the tensioner is released. You want the belt to be tight from the exhaust cam to the crank on the exhaust side before releasing the tensioner.
Also roll the engine over about 6 time I think, then see if they line back up!
I think that’s where he’s having the trouble. Lines it up.release tensioner. Rolls it over. Timing lost.
Well , i tried every possible way to get this thing to line up . As it sit’s right now both cam gear marking’s are out by a tooth when i get the belt back on and roll it over . I’ve had this belt on and off so many time’s right now lol Basically I’m lining up the crankshaft then taking off the pulley , taking the tension off the belt and removing the belt itself . Lining up the camshaft’s by turning the 12mm nut’s on them and holding them in place in 5mm punche’s . Then reinstall the belt , removing the punche’s , turning the crank so the camshaft’s move 3 teeth counter-clockwise and releasing the tensioner , turn the crank over a couple of time’s and the cam’s are out by a tooth every single time . Am i missing something ??? Starting to get a little frustrated with it lol Thank’s for the help guy’s .
When you line up the cam gears the first time it usually feels like they’re a half tooth off but as soon as you tension it they should line right up. From your last post it sounds like you’re on the right track and sounds like you’re using a Helms, which is good.
After you rotate 3 teeth and then loosen the tensioner bolt, you’re tightening it again immediately, right? Before you rotate the crank again? Rotating the cam 3 teeth essentially puts slack in the belt, loosening the tensioner allows the tensioner to take up that slack. But you have to tighten the tensioner again before rotating the crank or your efforts to take that slack out will have been for nothing.