hello, I need to change head gasket on my 01 civic, just wondering who has done it before, I have done changing few head gaskets on EG, I wonder if I can remove the timing belt off the cam gear without removing lower timing belt cover to get to the tensioner. Any help is appreciated.

 

Apparently you can. How you'd do it, I dont know, that belt is tight enough as it is with the tensioner loose. I'd call Hondata and ask them what their little trick is, they claim that you can install the special Kpro cam gear by just removing the upper timing cover, the PS pump and the stock gear. I'm thinking that if you remove the gear it'll come off, but when you go to put it back on, you're in for a fight to line it up.

 

Yup I have done it a couple times. just shove the belt off of the gear. To put it back on takes a good amount of finger strength. You can help a bit by taking off the cam gear, slip just a litle bit of belt on the gear and shove it on the cam. sounds easier than it is. make sure everything is lined up a tdc before you take it apart and double check after you get the gear and belt back on.