I just installed my new Gates timing belt today and after i got everything put back together..i noticed the belt seems to be cut wrong?? one side is perfectly straight...but the other side seems to be off a bit...it moves side to side..you'll see in the video.

also...is the belt too loose? when i rev the engine it flaps around a lot.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI8CuFRZMic

 

i would say its fine, i believe mines like that, and its an oem honda belt

 

huh that's weird. not sure about the condition of the belt, but you'd better tighten it up a bit

 

Tighten it up, for sure. See if that helps.

 

i think the spring on my tensioner is F'd, cause i've used the factory manual method of tightening a few times and it's always loose. earlier i tried the coat hanger method...where you stick the hanger in little hole and pull it tight..while tightening the tensioner bolt. it's still kinda loose.

so you think i should tighten it even more than it is now??

 

Yeah, Its to loose. I would try that before replacing the tensioner.

 

The walking on the belt is normal.
As far as tension on the belt I recommend getting a new tensioner/spring and following the manual specs. If you pry or over tighten the tenioner you risk snapping the belt.

 

if you over tighten the belt it can break the oil film on the cam bearings and kill both the cams and head i would say adjust to factor specs, "turn counterclockwise three teeth to create tension on timimg belt, tighten tersioner to 40 ft/lbs"

 

yup thats the only way i do it. youll have SOME flap, but not that much. I had that problem a long time ago on my first belt change, just learn how to tighten it.

 

are you sure its the right belt. but i would prefer a oem timing belt.

 

i tried the factory manual method 3 times...and got the same results each time. the belt seems to flap around a lot when i rev the motor. somewhere i heard that you should be able to twist the belt 90 degrees on the exhaust side. can anyone confirm this?

right now i have the belt a little tighter than it is in the video...and it still flaps a little bit..but it seems tight. i'm definitely gonna order a new tensioner. does anyone know if the new tensioner comes with a new spring too??


also.....does anyone have a video of their belt? i wanna compare what mine does to one that is tightened correctly.

 

put the engine in time put the belt on with all the marks lined up. leave the tensioner loose rotate the engine counter clockwise 7-10 times then tighten tensioner double check the timing

 

I've heard that too, but it's a fairly inaccurate way of measuring the tension.

 

i've done that. i've read the directions in the honda service manual. but those are the results i got. the belt flaps around when i rev the engine.

one thing i forgot to mention is that when i bought the engine it had an unorthodox crank pulley on it, so it doesnt have the rubber part that acts as a balancer. i'm not sure if that makes a difference..but it may be a factor..i dont know?

i'm gonna order a new tensioner and see what happens then. does anyone know if a new tensioner also comes with a new spring? cause it's possible the spring isn't strong enough to tension the belt properly.

 

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...LT+%28V-TEC%29

number 15 $3. although i think your belt is fine, but i'm only running a 300hp b16, that i built myself so what do i know?

 

so you're sayin the belt flapping is normal and i shouldn't worry about it?

 

That is all you got out of your build? Sad, sad, sad... Also there are more people than you that build motors so don't get so full of yourself.

 

how is this relavent to my question?

how much should i be able to turn the belt on the exhaust side when it's at stock tension? right now i can turn it a little less than 90 degrees. i'll post a video tomorrow if it's not raining.

 

Well at least my exhaust isn’t a home for vermin, lol.

Ok, so my last post admittedly sounded pretty pompous, my point is, I really wonder how many people have actually built an engine or have any real experience. It’s easy to sit behind a computer screen and make suggestions when it’s not your money that’s on the line. That’s pretty much it.
sorry that last post sounded so bad!
Now here is my reasoning as to why the timing belt is fine, it’s normal for the belt to flap around, thing is, the really smart Japanese people that designed the engine even left some space for that in the timing belt cover.
There is such a thing as “too tight”, again because this will put unnecessary stresses on the cam bearing, crank bearings. The other reason is, I’m going to guess it's stock springs and cams, they are pretty soft when comparing to some springs on the market and they are NOT going to jump timing.
Blipping the throttle will cause more flap, harmonics and stuff. If it was mine engine, I would not worry about it. Or dude could just tighten the hell out of it, and see how that goes.

 

figured out the problem i think....someone who owned the engine before me put the wrong water pump on it!. it's 18 tooth i think...it's supposed to be 22 tooth! so no wonder the belt won't get tight.

this is ****ing ridiculous..because last week i installed my new LMA's because my old ones were super noisy...come to find out whoever installed the old ones put them in upside down!! wtf. seriously, whoever owned the car before me was a F'n moron. i'm just glad no serious damage was done.

alright..off to the parts store to get the right water pump.