Timing Issue

[GOLD_JET]

hey guys this afternoon i replaced my timing belt with a gates one. aligned everything, but noticed the intake cam seemed to be out by about half a tooth. marked belt etc and placed new one on and adjusted tension. when adjusted it seemed to line up almost perfect but when i rotated it twice it went back to being around half a tooth out. but was still tensioned well. is this normal????

cheers;)

[Simon-S14]

generally yes, so long the markings all line up when the belt goes on, you cant go wrong.

[blind_elk]

The markings on the belt are irrelevant. What is important is the markings on the crank pulley and the cam pullies.

[GOLD_JET]

well they lined up perfect when i fisrt put them on. i even played it safe and marked both belts and counted teeth to get it right. but its weird how it was half a tooth out before and also now after the new belt. could there have been something wrong with engine? i just bought it and decided to do belt before i chuck it in

[blind_elk]

What happens when you go another revolution? It should be out further.

What is the ratio of "teeth on belt : teeth on cam wheel"? Unless that is a whole number, you will always observe the apparent problem. The important ratio is "teeth on cam wheel : teeth on crank wheel" (which should be 2:1).

And the tensioner will not affect any of this.