Timing belt to tight

[ckiesman]

Just wanted to know if anyone else has bought a timing belt here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-97...item45ee45d151

and found that it seemed very tight. When I just put it on the b3 im re-building, I had to really fight to put it on. I tried putting it on without the tensioner, and with the tensioner. I tightened the tensioner bolt with the tensioner as loose as it would go, put the belt on, and went to loosen the bolt figuring the spring would pull the belt tight. Instead it ended up loosing the tensioner more, because the spring dosent have enough strength to tension the belt.

It just seems strange that that it so ungodly tight, even without the tensioner. I've never done a belt before, only timing chains, and after searching on here, i found that a belt thats to tight is no good.

i'm going to contact the seller about this, but i figured i'd ask for some insight here as well.

[FestYboy]

count the teeth from your old belt and the new belt, if they don't match, you were sent the wrong belt.

[ckiesman]

that makes sense, lol now i just need to find my old belt.

[ckiesman]

spare belt was nowhere to be found, but i counted 108 teeth

[ckiesman]

Third post in a row:

I took some pictures to show what i mean:



don't mind the hob gobbed rtv

[JohnGunn]

I tightened the tensioner bolt with the tensioner as loose as it would go, put the belt on, and went to loosen the bolt figuring the spring would pull the belt tight. Instead it ended up loosing the tensioner more, because the spring dosent have enough strength to tension the belt.

I'm not sure I understand what you describe in the above statement.

When you say, "with the tensioner as loose at it would go," do you mean with the tensioner spring as loose as it would go? If that is what you did, that would place the tensioner wheel in the location which would make the belt its tightest and you would expect releasing the bolt would allow the belt to pull the wheel away from that "tightest" position to one controlled by the tensioner spring.

More helpful is the suggestion of measuring the length of the new belt and comparing that to the factory specifications. You can find reference to those specs at the following link. Click on "engine" and then "timing belt" to see a list of available belts.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1105254

I've been dealing with a noise which I believe to be coming from my tensioner and need to go in and test the bearings on mine. How does the new tensioner feel when you rotate it by hand? Does it spin or does the grease packed in it prevent it from turning that freely? Thanks for that.

John Gunn
Coronado, CA

[ckiesman]

I mean the actual position of the tensioner pulley. I should have been more clear. The pulley wont go any looser, and it is still to tight.

and as for that pulley, it turns nicely. You wont feel any binding. You can however feel a little bit of resistance, just as you would expect with a new bearing.

[Damkid]

What I would do is rotate the engine by hand and make 2 revolutions of the crankshaft and if the timing marks still line up then it should be the right belt

[ckiesman]

they did line up after 2 revolutions. I tried that earlier today, just to be safe. I just dont want to get this motor back in only to find i need to change the belt again

[91_festy_Gl]

If its like any other timing belt I have ever done, on the compression stroke the belt gets tighter and on the down stroke it loosens just a bit. I was also taught that after replacing a new timing belt, your suppost to rotate the engine by hand atleast six times then re check your timing. If you can press on the belt with your finger and it gives in just alittle then your good to go. The tension will adjust as the belt wears in.

[ckiesman]

ok, good. I was worried i'd have another set back to getting my festy on the road

[JohnGunn]

ok, good. I was worried i'd have another set back to getting my festy on the road

Just to be sure, you do understand that you should only install this new belt if it has "exactly" 107 teeth? From your picture of the installed belt, it is clear that the pitch (distance between teeth) is correct, so if the number of teeth is correct the length of the belt will be correct.

The actual length of the belt "is" important. The tensioner spring is designed to apply the proper tension on a belt of the specified length. If the belt is too long, the tension set by the spring will be too loose, if too short, the tension will be too tight.

So much easier to get things right with the engine out.

John Gunn
Coronado,

[ckiesman]

So much easier to get things right with the engine out.

so true. I counted 108. But i'm going to re-count tomorrow.

thanks for the help guys

[Festiva Time]

Your picture shows it fits good. It might be a little bit smaller than a standard timing belt.