engine timing

[vtr_matt1983]

ive stripped my vtr and put on a new head and timing belt does anyone know how to time it up properly and how to know when the tension in the timing belt is right thanks dudes

[iSlayeR]

Lock the pistons on TDC ( small hole on the block) then lock the cam ( u'll see the lining hole) belt etc on, then turn it over twice with your hand to make sure timing is correct.

[f13sta]

as above and to check the tension you can either get the proper killogram tool or the way we do that work is the long part of the belt you can turn 90 degrees easily to ticht and it won't go too loose and it will go further than 90

[vtr_matt1983]

thanks guys will do it tomoz :)

[vtr_matt1983]

everything is on and im ready to turn it over by hand i never timed an engine before so just looking to know what to expect if its right how will i know and if its wrong am i going to bend the valves again? im getting nervous now lol

[Gabbastard]

take out the spark plugs to make it easier to turn. Then turn it over by hand. If it turns nice and smooth, alls good. If it hits a certain point and wont turn, dont force it; check the timing.

[iSlayeR]

Turn it over clockwise, as soon as you feel contact with something, don't go anymore as your cam may be out of time causing piston/valve contact.

How ever you may feel it go slighty harder, if you've got your spark plugs in, this will be compression, turn it over twice and check everything is still lined up :y:

[vtr_matt1983]

what does it mean when it doesnt turn smoothly there is a little bit of resistance for half a turn then it swings back round with ease (spark plugs where in when it did this is that just the resistance of the pressure build up

[iSlayeR]

what does it mean when it doesnt turn smoothly there is a little bit of resistance for half a turn then it swings back round with ease (spark plugs where in when it did this is that just the resistance of the pressure build up

Correct, that's compression :y:

[vtr_matt1983]

cheers dude im normally quite handy when it comes to diy repaires but this has me nervous lol knowing that 1 mistake and i fucked another head and another days work doesnt feel good lol

[iSlayeR]

cheers dude im normally quite handy when it comes to diy repaires but this has me nervous lol knowing that 1 mistake and i fucked another head and another days work doesnt feel good lol

Know exactly how you feel, i did a rebuild on my 1.4 and put it in my 1.1 shell, was amazed when it started, can't learn without trail and error though :y:

[vtr_matt1983]

call me an idiot but i cant find the hole to lock the pistons and do i just use a screwdriver to lock them :)

[GummiGana]

About the correct tension of the timing belt...If I knew I currently had the belt correctly tensioned, would it be possible to slacken the belt tensioner with an angle gauge until the belt could be slipped off, then make note of the amount of degrees slackened and later on upon refitting just simply re-tension the same amount that was slackened earlier? Would this work? Gonna service the head on my 1.4 soon and any advice on tensioning the belt would be welcome as I haven't done it before =)