Tech / Misc Tech topics that don't seem to go elsewhere.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 20, 2004 | 04:31 PM
  #1  
7thGear's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Default what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover?

this is for a SOHC engine, lets say i leave the timing belt cover off... what can happen?

( well i know what can happen.. rocks n ****..) but will it?
Old May 20, 2004 | 08:04 PM
  #2  
RedlinedVTEC's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
From: Maple Valley, WA, USA
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (7thGear)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 7thGear &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this is for a SOHC engine, lets say i leave the timing belt cover off... what can happen?

( well i know what can happen.. rocks n ****..) but will it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Who's to say whether it will or not, I don't think any psychics surf this board. I know people who have had a rock get wedged between the teeth of the oil pump gear causing the timing belt to slip and their valves to become real friendly with their pistons. I have the top cover off on one of my cars and I haven't had any problems for 2 years, but who knows what tomorrow will bring. Basically if you have the cover why not use it? I misplaced my upper cover and in my laziness never put it back on.
Old May 20, 2004 | 08:09 PM
  #3  
7thGear's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (RedlinedVTEC)

its REALLY ugly on a sohc...

its like you have metal metal metal and then this ugly gray plastic thing...

im in the middle of a mini me so i'm gonna be changing the belt anyway, and if i dont have to put the cover back on id rather not

plus in the future if i get an adjustable cam gear i mean... they make em aonized blue for a reason right
Old May 20, 2004 | 08:10 PM
  #4  
mmuller's Avatar
Mad Scientist
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 1
From: tallafizzy, FL state
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (RedlinedVTEC)

yeah, i think there is a lot more danger by not running the bottom cover, but as sayd above, its all luck.
i have had my top cover off for like 2 yars and no problems yet
Old May 21, 2004 | 07:34 PM
  #5  
sporkcrx's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 0
From: broke in the bay area, CA
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover?

What sohc will this be on? I know on d16a6's, you need the cover to do the ignition, cam, and crank timing.
Old May 22, 2004 | 04:38 AM
  #6  
7thGear's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (sporkcrx)

y7/y8 hybrid
Old May 22, 2004 | 12:13 PM
  #7  
DaX's Avatar
DaX
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,118
Likes: 667
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (7thGear)

I have first hand experience. SOHC sucked a rock up off the freeway and snapped the belt at 80mph...in the middle of nowhere too.
Old May 22, 2004 | 12:32 PM
  #8  
7thGear's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (DaX)

did u have the whole thing off or just the top?
Old May 22, 2004 | 02:13 PM
  #9  
DaX's Avatar
DaX
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,118
Likes: 667
Default

both pieces were off. i have ridden for 1.5 years now with my LS swap and the top cover off, but I'd like to buy a new one and put it back on for a better look.
Old May 22, 2004 | 03:01 PM
  #10  
elScorcho's Avatar
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: houston, tx, usa
Default Re: (DaX)

if you have it, just leave it on dude. its one of those things where you gotta weigh the risks against the benefits. personally i dont think its worth it.
Old May 22, 2004 | 08:56 PM
  #11  
vtecb20coupe's Avatar
B A N N E D
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 2
From: blah
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (7thGear)

anything is possible. worst thing possible is something falling in between the cover and belt f*cking up the motor. just leave it on.
Old May 23, 2004 | 06:10 AM
  #12  
Chiovnidca's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,574
Likes: 6
From: Cincinnati,, Oh
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (7thGear)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 7thGear &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

( well i know what can happen.. rocks n ****..) but will it?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to take the chance? BTW, I think they look like crap with the cover missing.
Old May 23, 2004 | 07:12 AM
  #13  
7thGear's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover? (Chiovnidca)

even with an metalic blue cam gear? :D
Old Jun 2, 2024 | 09:36 AM
  #14  
ruinedxjake's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover?

It bothers me how many people run without their covers, especially lower covers on a b series, with no good reason. If you bought it that way or it broke, I'd understand, but it is usually laziness. This means as a guarantee, if the distributor has ever been touched, your ignition timing is almost completely guaranteed off (even by a little bit). If you ever want to buy someone's "performance B series" and there is no cover, they have not been servicing that engine correctly.

I care more so for the ignition timing. I will say regarding risk of rocks on an integra with factory AC and power steering ETC., the chance of a rock coming up is probably slim compared to any civic b swap (because people usually are not running an AC compressor, PS pump, AC lines, etc.) and there is a lot more room in a civic engine bay for rocks to jump up into the belt than any engine bay with all sorts of pumps/compressors able to deflect more.

The more open your engine bay, the higher chance something can jump up and kill it.

It Also really bothers me that they couldn't design a cover easier to put on like a external only two-piece, and that they kept changing the sizing between decks on the B series. The problem with tweakers starting to remove the covers probably partly stems from the valve cover eave/overhang, covering the top of the timing belt, giving people an extreme sense of overconfidence, simply because the cam gears are covered... The timing belt cover should only be dummy proof and not try to be water tight (referencing D series covers). Having to pull the valve cover off and the cam gears is ridiculous in the grand scheme. LS is different than GSR is different than B-16, etc. I will find out soon whether or not I can make a B18C set work, specifically the upper covers work for LS/VTEC Swap (which seems to have no solution and only one forum even vaguely addressing with no clear proof of a solution). But what really matters for engine safety and performance is that lower cover with ignition timing.

Will report back how a B18C cover works on LS VTEC setup (B18B1 block, B16 head, and I am even using a 1320 manual tensioner so mods will be required I will try to record that as well).
Old Jun 2, 2024 | 10:44 AM
  #15  
Ryanthegreat1's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 500
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover?

Originally Posted by ruinedxjake
It bothers me how many people run without their covers, especially lower covers on a b series, with no good reason. If you bought it that way or it broke, I'd understand, but it is usually laziness. This means as a guarantee, if the distributor has ever been touched, your ignition timing is almost completely guaranteed off (even by a little bit). If you ever want to buy someone's "performance B series" and there is no cover, they have not been servicing that engine correctly.

I care more so for the ignition timing. I will say regarding risk of rocks on an integra with factory AC and power steering ETC., the chance of a rock coming up is probably slim compared to any civic b swap (because people usually are not running an AC compressor, PS pump, AC lines, etc.) and there is a lot more room in a civic engine bay for rocks to jump up into the belt than any engine bay with all sorts of pumps/compressors able to deflect more.

The more open your engine bay, the higher chance something can jump up and kill it.

It Also really bothers me that they couldn't design a cover easier to put on like a external only two-piece, and that they kept changing the sizing between decks on the B series. The problem with tweakers starting to remove the covers probably partly stems from the valve cover eave/overhang, covering the top of the timing belt, giving people an extreme sense of overconfidence, simply because the cam gears are covered... The timing belt cover should only be dummy proof and not try to be water tight (referencing D series covers). Having to pull the valve cover off and the cam gears is ridiculous in the grand scheme. LS is different than GSR is different than B-16, etc. I will find out soon whether or not I can make a B18C set work, specifically the upper covers work for LS/VTEC Swap (which seems to have no solution and only one forum even vaguely addressing with no clear proof of a solution). But what really matters for engine safety and performance is that lower cover with ignition timing.

Will report back how a B18C cover works on LS VTEC setup (B18B1 block, B16 head, and I am even using a 1320 manual tensioner so mods will be required I will try to record that as well).
Last post to this thread was over 20 years ago bruh.
Old Jun 2, 2024 | 10:46 AM
  #16  
ruinedxjake's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
Default Re: what can happen if i run without the timing belt cover?

Originally Posted by Ryanthegreat1
Last post to this thread was over 20 years ago bruh.
Yes, this goes to show the lack of support out there for the LSVtec concept regarding the timing belt cover. It's not like '90s car's advanced really, mods died off after 2015. And the community is definitely dying down a little bit.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
924doorEG
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
12
Sep 6, 2007 07:44 AM
rollydc69
Forced Induction
3
Jan 8, 2006 12:15 PM
noble4ws
Honda Prelude
1
Nov 11, 2003 05:27 AM
MidoriEK4
Tech / Misc
3
Mar 6, 2003 03:57 PM
Malgerus
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
2
Jun 25, 2002 08:17 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:25 AM.