cambelt/timing weirdness + not running right after battery removal. Help please?

[Gandi699]

could have bent valves but more than likely you'd feel that touching the piston tops when you turned it over by hand but you wont know that until you take the head off. Turn it by hand and if it feels okay and spins over nicely then start it

And yes theres a bit of resistance but obviously nothing compared to compression

[mechsman]

Thing is, now I'm not sure, because there is a fair bit of resistance as the engine comes up near to tdc and then very little as it goes over tdc and comes down. I guess the only way to know (without taking the head off) is to put the new belt on and try spinning it by hand and then starting it if it feels no different to before?

Would you be able to bend the valves turning the engine by hand?

[Gandi699]

Yes it can but you'd have to be a bit brutal with it when turning

[mechsman]

Nuts. Might have bent them as i was using a metre long breaker bar to turn it on the crank.

[Gandi699]

Just try it to be honest, if they are bent what do you have to lose? they can only get more bent haha. I've had a cambelt tensioner come loose on starting (as I didnt torque the nut up) and the valves hit the pistons with a distinct clunk. Didnt bend them though and they still sealed (head was pulled for checking).