timing belt install..how did I do?

[5speed]

I read about this on here but can't find the thread now. This is the right hand pulley. Timing mark is on the mark, arrow on the left hand pulley is on the mark.
I seem to recall this is normal???

[Earl43P]

viewtopic.php?t=3544

Yours looks to be off by one full tooth to me. ^^ Go to that link and look at the pictures.

[CYBORG]

It looks off to me as well

[salukispeed]

If you are spot on with the flywheel mark I too think your off by one tooth in the picture. But verify that the Mark on the flywheel is exactly centered in the plug hole

[5speed]

I had the pulley "locked" in place using this method..which worked extremely well. It gave me very good control over how far I moved the sprocket..
this was a trial run before I put the belt on.
I did have a bit of a struggle getting the belt on though..it was pretty snug even with the idler pulley loosened.
Is it possible to put the idler on after you have the belt in place?
I'm going to go out and recheck all the marks..

[Goboy]

Hi 5speed, I think you need to have the idler on but the bolts loosened. Its tough to get the belt on (seems impossible sometimes) but it will go on.
Rotate the engine through several revolutions with idler loose and the tension seems to get better, then tighten the idler bolts. They say you should redo the belt tension process with the engine at operating temp. If the belt is tight this should fix the tension. If you have your rad removed run a hose from the water pump up to the top of the engine, add coolant and warm up the engine.

Auxiliary hose.jpg

[5speed]

tks goboy.
I went out and redid the right hand belt..it was off a tooth. the engine isn't running yet so I can't run it to operating temp.
marks all line up and I rotated the engine numerous times with no issue.
I can't imagine changing the belts with the rad in..

[ericheath]

Once you do it a few times it gets easier. I think the trick to getting the right hand pulley correct is having the teeth of belt on with no play on the top side of the pulleys. It takes a strong hand but can be done. As long as the belt is tight on the top, then fit the belt around the rest of the pulley and onto the idler. Then if the valve spring pushes the pulley, it can't go far. It rotates ahead so it looks off until you tighten the belt tightener. Which is done after a revolution.

[Goboy]

I hear ya, after I did it a few times it did get easier. If you go by Octanes "tutorial" your fine. I make sure the idler pulley is fully bottomed by pushing it down (Rt side) with my hand just to make sure, then I pull on the bottom of the onto the bottom of the pulley. I don't know if there is a certain way the belt is supposed to go on, but you have to be careful not to bend or kink the belt as it can be damaged.

[5speed]

I started the belt on the bottom of the cam sprocket because it was easier. lol
the biggest problem was..I had been working on the bike all day and was getting a bit shack wacky.
I'm going to roll the engine over a few more times by hand to satisfy myself but the marks all lined up where they should when I did it a while ago.

[chewy999]

If you have your rad removed run a hose from the water pump up to the top of the engine, add coolant and warm up the engine.
Auxiliary hose.jpg

I did it that way, but you have to keep an eye on the temperature!

Hose.jpg

[WingMan71]

A question about this:

Can the engine actually run with the belts off by just ONE tooth? Or is even one tooth off enough to make the valves hit the pistons?

Any one know for sure?

***

[5speed]

A question about this:

Can the engine actually run with the belts off by just ONE tooth? Or is even one tooth off enough to make the valves hit the pistons?

Any one know for sure?

***

I could have answered that if I had rolled mine over but I didn't. I wouldn't want to find out either. lol

[77Gowing]

Well is seems I'm your huckleberry. First time I did my belts I was off by a tooth and did not realize it.
She started right up and I thought I was fine till I noticed my exhaust getting cherry red. Someone on this forum suggested I re-look at my belt timing and thus I validated their suspicions that I was off a tooth. When I first dealt with the belt I did not have much faith in WF's zip tie method, but in desparation after I had it off a tooth, I tried it and it worked like a charm. Sorry WF, the truth hurts sometimes but you were spot on. No damage to my engine that I know of, she starts and runs fine.