just aligned the timing belt and put the main pully back on, but have noticed the main pully mark sitting at around -10 degrees from the 0 mark. Not sure if this is correct or not, I was hopping not to have to strip down the engine front again !!

 

ps. all the belt timing marks were lined up before I put the pully back on

 

cheers

The pulley slides over a woodruff key on the sprocket so if the timing marks were all lined up before you put the pulley on then it cant move off the woodruff key, you did have the woodruff key?

Iirc it doesn't quite work like that. As Groover says the pulley is fixed by the woodruff key and when fitted won't line up with 0 TDC, seems odd doesn't it but I believe that's correct. Did you count the teeth or just go by the premarked lines?

This is not to contradict anyone, it is just for my understanding.

I would have thought that as the crank pulley's primary function would be to indicate TDC then surely it would line up the timing marks as 0 to 0?

From this point would it not be correct to then align the relevant cam markings?

As I say, this is something I would like to understand and I am open to correction/education.

Yes thats with the woodruff key installed.

 

I use the premarked lines to get the timing position right, this includes checking the cams and the pulley marks. I then count the teeth between as spec'ed in the manual.

 

I amumed that the main pulleys 0 mark would line up with the marks on the lower timing belt cover and so was shocked to find the pulley over ( after using the woodruff key)!!!

 

Just wanted to get some assuance before fitting the other stuff back on

Take the crank pulley off again to remove the bottom belt cover and just double check your lower sprocket timing mark, there are many pics in the tech section, just to be safe, i would hate for you to put it all back together at this stage and regret it.

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?135139-Align-timing-belt

Edited August 27, 201411 yr by groover

I think I am beginning to understand things a bit clearer now.

My reference to the pulley marking may not be relevant, as this relates to ignition timing and not valve timing?

It is the marking on the crank itself thats important!

It may well be off TDC when setting valve timing so as to put the valves in a safer condition, hence the timing mark on the pulley showing BTDC.

(just a theory I hasten to add)

Again, I am only trying to understand myself so please do not take my comments as read.

I am merely putting my thoughts forward for clarification and discussion.

took the covers off and the main pulley again. the marks all line up as they should so i'm now really confused if the main pulley should be -10 out from 0??

If all your timing marks line up, then i really wouldnt worry yourself about the pulley

Be sure to rotate the engine several times by hand prior to attempting to fire her up.

all sorted now after talking to jeff from zworld. He said to stick a long screw driver down the sparkplug hole on cylinder 1 so I could see where tdc was when I turned the crank and it turned out the lower crank was not lined up as well as I thought :(. After I reset the timing belt with the aid of the screw driver the main pulley marks lined up correctly.

 

Thanks to jeff and u guys for the help

Glad you got it sorted mate.

 

So should the pulley have lined up 0 to 0 after all then?

yes thats correct, 0 to 0. When I first lined it up, it looked right to the pictures I had seen which is why I got confused. Fisicly checking the piston TDC was a big help to get it right.

 

I have changed the timing belt before, so I dont know why I messed it up this time!!

Happy for you mate.

Well done.

So when you said you had he timing marks lined up.......:lol:

 

Glad you got it sorted, could have been problems if you hadnt taken the time to check and double check again :thumbup1:

Good job you spoke to an expert there then hey.