I just installed a new timing belt on my new h23/vtec build. The belt was a bitch to get one, but i finally did. My questiosn are this.

The crankshaft gear was maybe 1/16-1/8" off of the little alignment arrow. I couldnt turn the crank over anymore, no matter how much I turned. How do i know when its okay?

Te camgear TDC "up" marks are as up as i can tell they can be. How precise do you have to be when getting the arrows pointing up on these cam gears?

sorry if this doesnt make any sense, its been a 15hr/ 3 beer day..

 

line up the crank and cams as follows in the pic, there are 2 notches on each cam gear that have to be lined up with the deck of the head use a pocket ruler to extend the deck of the head to get a more accurate reading

 

look on the side of the cam gears there should be 2 notches on each gear those notches have to be lined up with the deck of the head - use a pocket ruler and put it on the deck of the head if the notches line up with the ruler your in time.

if not position the cams in that manner and line up the crank gear with the little arrow on the block ( thats the typical set up) i can check the service manual if this isnt the correct info for your engine

 

thanks for all the help, but my problem is a bit more specific.

My crankshaft is off. My inner crankshaft/inner timing belt gear doesnt quite line up its dot with the oil pumps triangle. The gear is 1/2 a tooth off (the gear is tilted to the right as you look at it) and when i put the crankshaft bolt back on and try to spin the crank, the bolt just comes off. When i try to spin it by turning it clockwise, the crank stops halfway (abouts) through its rotation and just starts to tighten itself. Im afraid taht if I keep tightening it itll break it. PLLEEASSE some one let me know how to rotate my motor. i cant get it to spin just enough, and i want this to be perfect, i dont wanna have a timing belt to smash my valves into my pistons.

sorry if its wordy, im pissed, dirty and tired.

 

ohhh now i c what u mean, just zap the bolt in with an impact gun. it should only take one or two split second blasts.....remember to hold the crank pully with one hand while you do this.....then line up the crank and once agian hold the pully and blast the bolt back out...... when you put the whole thing back together make sure you hold the pully once agian cuz u dont want to put an excessive amount of tension on the timing and balancer belts. (if you dont have air tools your gonna need the honda crank pully holder, but i assume that air tools are how u removed the bolt in the first place) ok bro good luck

 

well check this out.. the crankshaft WONT move past a certain point. i can turn it, then it stops moving and the bolt just tightens. I turn it the other way and it spins half a turn, then the bolt come off.

 

bump

 

MAKE SURE THAT THE CRANK ISNT MOVING THE PISTON UP INTO THE VALVS, OTHER THAN THAT ID SAY PULL THE SPARK PLUGS OUT AND LOOK FOR ANYTHING INSIDE THE CYLINDERS THAT ISNT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AND YANK THE OIL PAN OFF AND MAKE SURE NOTHINGS BROKEN IN THERE

 

okay, good advice. Ive checked up in the pan, and can see anything. Tonight im going to take off teh head and see if i can rotate it. Can I reuse my headgasket? Its been Tq'd down on but, not run.

ps, no plugs in the engine, and theres no headwork, and its got low comp pistons (shouldnt be the valves, but who knows)

 

WELL THE SERVICE MANUAL SAYS TO NEVER REUSE A HEAD GASKET.......BUT PERSONALLY I DONT SEE A PROBLEM WITH REUSING IT AS LONG AS THE GASKET IS INSTALLED WITH THE CORRECT SIDE UP I THINK YOULL BE OK AS LONG AS THE ENGINE HASNT BEEN RUN YET.