MPR

So I've got my new timing belt and water pump...getting ready to do the swap....reading some DIY's...and some horror stories.

I've hear of a few cases where the new belt walks to the side on the cam gears and rubs on the cover and basically shreads itself to pieces.

They say it could be partly the tensioner and alot of ppl have been switching the stock tensioner with a manual lock type.

Is this necessary? Should I worry about this happening?

I'm very mechanically inclined, done alot of work on cars over the years, so I figure as long as I tripple check everything and go slow, take my time, It should be ok.

What do you guys think?

chris_v2

wtf

I do a honda timing belt probably every week or 2nd week and I have never had that problem. Those idiots probably dont tension it properly then it causes it too walk. Just make sure the tensioner is installed properly (its on its pin, spring is on, bolt is good and tight). Also spin the motor over when its on and tensioned, i usually spin it over twice to make sure nothing is slipping and the tensioner is working properly.

MPR

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1844717

There's the link to the horror story I found.

Thanks for the input chris_v2. Gives me some more confidence knowing it's not a common problem. The guy must have overlooked something up to have that happen.

chris_v2

"The only thing i noticed was that the timing was off by mabye 1/4 of a tooth or something"

Thats from the OP. Anybody knows their **** knows that you cannot be off by 1/4 or 1/2 a tooth. It's either your off by a tooth or not. Its just the slack in the belt that makes it look like its off "1/4 of a tooth"

That being said, he obviously isnt the smartest guy around, so he must of overlooked something or didnt tension it properly.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

hahaha 1/4 tooth off that can only mean he didn't tension properly.

t-belt is no big deal man. dig in and have some fun.

put the engine to TDC #1 cylinder firing, and go ahead.

mr cheesetoe

You can do it man. I did mine with a buddy following a DIY. The only thing that happened to me was being off a tooth. So I got back in there and re-routed the belt and then it was fine. First time=9hrs

MPR

^^DO you have that DIY?

I can't seem to find one for a B16 for some reason. I can probably do it without but I don't want to over look anything.

EFSiR

back in the days when I was beginning to play with honda the one thing that saved me from skipping a tooth was to mark the side of the old timing belt with white out at three spots plus on corresponding cam teeth and then to transfer those marks off the old timing belt onto the new one.
Then it was a matter of slipping the new one on and putting poper tension on the belt.
HTH

LEITNER

http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/timingbelt/tbelt.php

i realize its an 1800cc but it pretty much the same crap...and it has colour pictures too. its a pretty cool site too.

mr cheesetoe

Here is the timing belt installation diagrams from the Helms manual I used, along with the DIY LEITNER posted. Hope this helps.

MPR

Thanks guys.

MPR

I did the water pump and timing belt yesterday. Took me 5-6 hours. Had a couple friends come to help (though neither one has ever done this before, nor would either have attempted it, still nice to have an extra hand). The car runs great and next time I'll be able to do it without any worries. (also discovered both the drivers side engine mounts are completely toast. Good excuse to get new urethane mounts...lol)

I found out exactly what that guy did wrong in the link I posted above. After I put the new belt on and tensioned it, I turned it over by hand a few times. The belt started to walk off the pulleys. I then discovered the small retainer piece that goes on the crank on the outside of the belt between the belt and the crank pulley. It goes on one way and is what keeps the belt on the pulleys. After putting the retainer and crank pulley on and turning it over by hand again, the belt stayed nice and centered on the pulleys.

To me, that explains exactly what that guy did. He forgot to put that retainer in and his belt shifted over and contacted the casing which shredded the belt.

So a little word of advice: When doing a timing belt on the b-series motor, DO NOT forget to put the belt retainer back on, with the taper towards the belt, between the belt and the crank pulley.

Happy wrenching everyone!

mr cheesetoe

Glad to hear that it worked out good for you. If you've also never got a valve adjustment, now's the time. There is also a DIY on cspeed, but it only costs adout $8o to get it done at Honda.