So i am putting on a timing belt and it is impossible to rotate the intake cam when the dist. is on. When i take the distrubutor off it is easy to rotate the cam but as soon as i put the dist. on it 'locks' the cam in place so it can't move at all

any ideas on why this is happening?

 

oh also the distrubutor rotates freely when it is off; and i have the spark plugs out to rel;ease any pressure

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C-Hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So i am putting on a timing belt and it is impossible to rotate the intake cam when the dist. is on. When i take the distrubutor off it is easy to rotate the cam but as soon as i put the dist. on it 'locks' the cam in place so it can't move at all

any ideas on why this is happening?</TD></TR></TABLE>

When you rotate the cam(s) the lobes are opening the valves and you are feeling the pressure of the valve springs (normal).


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C-Hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">oh also the distrubutor rotates freely when it is off; and i have the spark plugs out to rel;ease any pressure</TD></TR></TABLE>

What are you trying to do anyway?

 

well i replaced the head gasket and am just putting the timing belt on and saw that when i had the dist. on it locked the intake cam so it could not rotate and all and when i take it off it rotates fine and i can feel/hear the valves opening and closing and it works smooth.

So i now have the belt on and it rotates fine and it still gets to TDC when i rotate the crank but now the dist. is off and when i put it on it locks the intake cam and i can't rotate the crank at all.

I found this how-to and follow it but it doesn't mention my problem.
http://www.c-speedracing.com/h...2.php

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C-Hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well i replaced the head gasket and am just putting the timing belt on and saw that when i had the dist. on it locked the intake cam so it could not rotate and all and when i take it off it rotates fine and i can feel/hear the valves opening and closing and it works smooth.

So i now have the belt on and it rotates fine and it still gets to TDC when i rotate the crank but now the dist. is off and when i put it on it locks the intake cam and i can't rotate the crank at all.

I found this how-to and follow it but it doesn't mention my problem.
http://www.c-speedracing.com/h...2.php </TD></TR></TABLE>

you have the distributor in the correct way right? One side of the "knotch" of the cam is larger for the distributor to slide into. It's to make sure you don't assemble it 180 degree's out.

 

ok got it on; no idea what was wrong but it is on now, thanks for the help