Is it natural for the timing belt to have *some* slack in it on one side, and tight on the other side? The timing belt on the new B16a1 in my garage is doing this. It will be extremely tight on one side, and somewhat loose on the other, and it will switch off sometimes to be tight on the other side, and loose on the other. Its almost never even between the two though.

This normal?

 

yes a *little* slack is normal.

 

I noticed the same thing with mine when I checked it a while ago. Can't explain it, but maybe i has something to do with the way the tensioner works? As far as I know, it's normal.

 

bizarre

 

Completely normal.

Are you sure you're doing the preload properly?

 

Preload? Please explain. Do you mean the tensioner? If so, then yea its in there the same way it came out. (honda put it in the first time) If preload is something else, then I have no clue

Cam gears, and crank pulley are lined up to their spots/marks. Tensioner is in there the way it came out, and water pump is in there. What really scares me is that while the engine is running the leading side (the side where the belt comes up, the right) flaps back and forth a little. My miata doesnt do this, the belt is completely tight on both sides and I dont have another honda to look at.