Need a little help.

[rsoles27]

I need to replace belts and head work done. Got it all done and got the belts on and when went to crank the belts over with the tools first rotation when good but on second after tensioning the tensioner the timing belt started to jump. I don't know what is going on and I could use some help.

[mikepellegrini]

What year car do you have? If you have an 87+ with the automatic tensioner, you have to release the spring tension on the tensioner and bolt it in place before you turn the engine over.

Have you looked at Clark's Manual? Timing Belt and Balance Shaft Belt Tensioning

Or if it's an <87, is the belt tension too loose?

Correct tension is to be able to turn the belt 90 degrees (gripped between your thumb and index finger) in the long run between the cam sprocket and the crank sprocket. I always have the idler roller off when I do this.

Or alternatively, with clean hands, if you can just barely turn the waterpump with your hand, then tension is okay, but if you can't budge it, it's too tight.

[rsoles27]

its an 87 944S and thanks.

[rsoles27]

What is happening is that when the belt is fully tensioned the engine will turn over but after i tensinion the engine to the correct spec (with tool 9201) the engine will skip teeth on the crank side of the belt (this is with the balance shaft belts off also). the motor will spin easy with out the cams hooked up but the cams will be hard to turn. could the crank sprocket just be worn or is the cams to tight?

[Dan Himan]

Ouch, did you confirm proper cam positioning?

I use the casting marks located on the pad side (firewall) of the cams, and counting the outer links ( 7 ) . Always replace the chain and pads. Do you have the manual pdf? Also remember two crank rotations to 1 cam rotation. If the cams where miss placed, you might have bent some valves.

[rsoles27]

after running around today i found what you have here and hopefully it didnt bend any, although the machinist said if he has to do it again ill only pay for parts. and yeah i do have athe manual but couldnt find this in there.

[Dan Himan]

He should cover all cost, unless you agreed on that arrangement. Its in the manual 15-103 ,and 104.

[Dan Himan]

This would be in the Vol 1A-Engine. Sorry its 15-111.

[racer951y]

Cams were set right. It is weird because the engine turns over great in 98% of its rotation even with way to much tension on the belt (around a 6 on the 9201) but that one spot about 6 degrees off TDC it is right and if the belt is set tensioned right the crank pulley skips on the belt.

BTW I am helping rsoles on the car