hey guys. i replaced an headgasket on a auto 1992 accord but i forgot to put the cam bolt on. so it started beautifully but then the cam gear fell off and timing belt ripped. i didnt hear any noise that sounded like any type of contact of piston and valve.

so how do i check to c if the valves are bent ? do i have to get a valve removal tool to see if their bent?

thnx in advanced

 

You can take off the exhaust manifold and look in the exhaust ports to partially inspect the valves. Look in each port when the valves should be closed and when open to check the length for bends. You can also take out the spark plugs and in a very dark place shine a bright flashlight into the exhaust ports with your eye practically pressed against the plug well. Naturally, when the valves should be closed, there should be no light at all coming from the spark plug hole. Make sure when doing this that the motor is in the exact positions for checking each cylinder. If the exhaust valves are fine, the intake probably are as well. Taking off the IM is a bit more work than the EM but you'd almost have to in order to check the intake valves.

 

BTW that was for trying to avoid taking the head off again. The best way to inspect the valves is, of course, with the head off. Also, if you start the car and it runs fine there's no need to check anything.

 

damn, can't believe i didn't think of that. thnx man

 

..... or just do a leak down test, it takes about as much time as changing the spark plugs

I can tell you with about 98.9% confidence those valves are bent.......I have only seen one honda engine that broke a timing belt not destroy the valves. Only once, and he sold the car shortly after so who knows how long they lasted. Valves are designed for tensile strength (pulling), so they dont like to be bent. Even if they are only tweaked just a little bit, when they are pulled closed after the engine is fixed they will be bent straight...now they have been bent twice...sometimes this can cause the head to break off of the stem, i.e dropping a valve

if you like the engine and plan to keep it for a while, its always best to replace the valves

a few valves are always cheaper than this

 

You can also just check the valve clearance. If the valves are considerably out of adjustment then you know a valve is being held open because it is bent.