I am doing a simple water pump and timing belt replacement on my integra b18b engine while it is out of the car. I have a few questions...

I have a n1 pulley(alt only). I put the new timing belt on and the tdc doesn't really line up as well as I'd like it to. The white notch is supposed to line up with the line on the timing cover, but it is about 4mm off. I cant adjust it by skipping a tooth either. Is this a problem, or does the belt need to stretch or something?

How tight should the belt be? I made it very tight, but when i took the old one off, it was much looser. I just want to make sure i did this whole precedure right because I fear the consequences once I fire up the car.

Please post anything that could help me out and give me piece of mind, thanks.

 

sounds like you need to readjust the crank pulley. line it up again with the tick mark on the timing belt cover then put the timing belt on.

 

Where it is now is the best that i can get it. If i move it forward a tooth, it is 3mm from the tdc opposite as before. It just wont let me get a perfect adjustment.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jwbetley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Where it is now is the best that i can get it. If i move it forward a tooth, it is 3mm from the tdc opposite as before. It just wont let me get a perfect adjustment.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So where is that at?

 

It's like... the belt teeth are too big for me to get a perfect alighnment. If i skip a tooth, the tdc is 3 mm right of the timing mark. If i skip back a tooth, the mark is 3mm left of the tdc. I dont know why i cant get a perfect alighnment. The cam gears are perfectly alighned, its just that dahm crank pulley that is off a hair. Will this "hair" screw something up? Do i need to allow the belt to stretch? And how tight do i make the tensioner?

 

if the tensioner is new you should not ''help'' it stretch the belt to spec.
you say off. a little off is ok... take a pic.

if not keep trying, you'll get it.I usually zip tie the belt to the gears while im putting the belt in so i can concentrate in getting it right and not the belt coming off

 

But isn't it very important to get it lined up perfectly?

Oh, and should a new tensioner be installed with a timing belt?

 

i am using the old tentioner, i think it might be broken. When i tighten it, i have to pry up on it with a screw driver to get it tight. If not, it tightens but remains loose.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jwbetley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i am using the old tentioner, i think it might be broken. When i tighten it, i have to pry up on it with a screw driver to get it tight. If not, it tightens but remains loose. </TD></TR></TABLE>

always replace the tensior with a new piece, pretty important piece in such a vital part of the engine. BTW I've been off as much as 4 mm at the crank pulley. I just adjust the ignition timing to compensate for it. Still pass smog too.