Hey all,
Can some one help clarify my confusion about my an 87 Accord LXI (automatic tranny).
Here's my make up problem.
Let's say I'm replacing head gasket. In the process of unbolting the crank pulley bolt, because it has been over tighten beyond spec and because in order to hold the drive plate still, I jammed it with a piece of solid metal bar(this was,unfortunately, true). As a result, I totally bent the metal part where the only timing mark on the drive plate is located so the mark is 100% useless and there's no other crank mark left what so ever. The only useful marks I have are the two marks on the camshaft sprocket.

Because the head was off, I turned the the crankshaft so that the #1 n #4 piston @ TDC. Then I marked the untouched crank sprocket and oil pan with a pen as a reference to this TDC. After the head, rocker arms, etc, were installed, fast forward to the installing the timing belt, I just lined up my pen marks(4 the crank) and made sure the cam sprocket marks align with the head edge(4 the cam). Is that all?

The reason I make up that situation is because (it seems) my confusing manual told me not to use the ACTUAL TDC, but to use the mark that's(if I turn the crank counter clock wise) approximately 10 degree(if measure against cam sprocket) b4 TDC or 20 degree(if measure against the crank sprocket) b4 TDC or may be I really did move the timing mark by jamming the drive plate. However, I doubt that jamming the drive plate has caused the mark distortion because there's another little mark that lined up perfectly with the REAL TDC, the mark my manual said nothing about at all!!!


So to ask the question: Do I always line up the ACTUAL TDC or is the #1 piston supposed to be a few mm(or whatever distance that 10 degree on the cam corresponds to) B4 TDC when I install a new timing belt(as my manual seems to suggest)?

Thanks 4 reading

 

You would align the crank pulley to TDC, then align the cam gears per the manual. Generally there is a mark for TDC not only on the crank pulley, but on the timing belt sprocket as well, so you would be able to double check if you were to take the cover off.