can stretching the tensioner spring affect the tightness of the timing belt? i followed ever step on team-integra.net and the timing belt was still not tightened. someone please help.

http://www.team-integra.net/forum/bl...nt-g3-teg.html

 

Thats really hard to explain but I have always put the belt on the exhaust cam first with the intake cam about a half tooth down (counter clockwise) and once belt is on that half tooth will allow you to tighten the belt and then tighten up the tensioner

 

ill try that out tomorrow. thanks.

 

I wouldnt streatch the spring.. Your suppose to put the belt on with the crank 3 teeth off

 

Those instructions are WRONG. You do NOT rotate the engine "4 to 6 rotations" before tensioning the belt.

This is the factory method:
1) Push the tensioner all the way down to the bottom of its travel, and lightly lock it there.
2) With the #1 piston at TDC compression, and all the pulleys properly aligned therewith,
3) install the timing belt and seat it straight on all the pulleys.
4) install the lower timing belt cover, the crank pulley, and the crank pulley bolt (tighten to 130 ft/lbs).
5) Use a ratchet on the crank pulley to turn the engine EXACTLY THREE TEETH counterclockwise (on the cam pulleys) AND NO MORE, then HOLD IT THERE;
6) loosen the tensioner bolt quickly so the tensioner can zing home.
7) Tighten the tensioner bolt, then let go of the ratchet on the crank pulley.
8) NOW you rotate the engine a few rotations until it's back to TDC compression on the #1, then repeat Step 5 to double-check the tension with your fingers.

Personally, I find the factory method tends to make the belt a tad looser than I like, so I follow a slightly different procedure.

 

thanks for the help. ill be sure to try this when i get off work today.

 

my trick is, once you have the belt installed, you put a punch or pin of some sort in the hole throught the cam cap into the hole in the intake cam to hold it still. Then you take your ratched on the crank pully and try to spin it counter clockwise and you can watch the tensioner move. hole the ratch tight and tighten the tensioner bolt a the same time. I had a buddy show me this a few years ago and I have been doing it ever sence. good luck

 

Why wouldn't you want to do that? That centers the belt on the pulleys which takes out any tension that may occur from the belt not running straight.

 

You wouldn't want to do that because the belt is still loose. A loose belt can jump a tooth, which would put you back to square one.

You align the belt on the pulleys by eye. The belt is pretty stiff, so getting it centered on the pulleys by eyeis very easy.