without the cover on the timing belt i cant mess with the timing right? my engine never came with a cover and it needs to be timed.. would i have to buy a cover or can i just take it to a honda specialist and they can figure it out.

 

If you remove the crank pulley, look at the TDC mark on the timing belt pulley, theres a reference mark on the oil pump
When those 2 are lined up, the crank is at TDC

I would suggest getting a bottom timing cover tho, before some debris causes some damage. Plus its just easier when checking timing with the knotch on the crank pulley, instead of ripping it all apart over and over

 

Your question is confusing. You use a timing gun and loosen/move the dizzy to adjust timing. Your timing cover is to keep junk out of the belts and stuff. The cover has nothing to do with normal timing adjustment. If you have adjustable cam gears then you want the cover off while adjusting. Check/adjust the timing go buy a cover and be done.

 

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but you do infact need the timing belt cover. As stated above you can locate everything to TDC without it by unbolting the crank pulley and using the arrow on the oil pump. Cam gear has it's own timing marks as well. But that doesn't have anything to do with setting the timing of the distributor. On the pulley, there is a mark you use to set the crank at TDC in relationship to the timing belt cover. Just ahead of that, there are three more marks used to time the dizzy with the timing light. Without the timing belt cover, how would you set the timing of the distributor?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dognutz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your question is confusing. You use a timing gun and loosen/move the dizzy to adjust timing. Your timing cover is to keep junk out of the belts and stuff. The cover has nothing to do with normal timing adjustment. </TD></TR></TABLE>

How do you expect to use the timing gun without a reference mark off of the lower timing belt cover? The timing gun is useless without the reference mark that indicates if your at 14, 16, or 18 degrees BTDC

 

so let me get this straight. without the bottom cover you cant set the distributor's timing and 3 more other marking to what? trying to learn hear if anyone can help me out..

 

The 3 marks are used to set the distributor timing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 24TEN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The 3 marks are used to set the distributor timing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Alright cool. so now i know what im looking for. thanks alot guy's for your help. Damn i would have had a hard *** time..

 

It'll make more sense when the timing cover is on and the timing gun is used. It'll light up those marks and you'll see it's relative distance to the mark on the cover with each flash. Then you turn the dizzy (advance/retard) as needed to get it timed properly.