I have a strange one here. i have a new timing belt to fit on an engine im doing up in my garage on an engine stand. Now the original belt is a nissan with the same part number as my new belt. Now when i line up the timing marks on the cams, they are about a cm out on the belt that is fitted. After turning the engine round several revolutions to see if it will line up eventually, it seems that it doesnt line up at all any closer than the cm away from the timing marks.

I was told the engine ran fine from Mike Feeney, whom i got the engine from, so do i ignore the way the belt is fitted and put the new one on with the timing marks matching or do i follow how the old belt marks are matched.

 

Any help Jeff or legrath much appreciated

 

Cheers

Graham

Hi Graham,

 

Ok so dont be worring about belt difference, that will be the older belt has stretched a bit.

 

The other issue is its a common misconception that the back plate timing marks line up witn the belt and sprocket markings!! they are only a guide.

 

You need to only concern yourself with the timing belt marks and the cam pulleys and bottom sprocket marks line up, its the teeth count between the relevant markings which is the important bit.

 

Do take extra care on the bottom sprocket, see many, many zeds with timing belts wrongly timed on the bottom cranks sprocket usually by one tooth.

 

Also once the belt is double , double sure its on correct, when the engine is turned over do not expect to see the belt marks line up again with the sprockets and upper cam pulleys, dont know how many times you would need to turn it over to get them to line up again, but would guess its in the thousands.

 

Hope that helps

 

Jeff

Youre a star Jeff many thanks. I have studied your posts on the timing belt and understood what needed to be lined up, but did get confused with the timing marks on the back plate as they didnt line up exactly, but as you say they are only a guide.

The timing mark on the crank arent so distinctive and by the looks of it, its all original.

 

Cheers

Graham