[89camry2vz-fe]

I installed a new timing belt kit. Thought the cam gears were synced up correctly with the crankshaft pulley on 0 degrees, but after releasing the tensioner, the right camshaft timing pulley is two teeth behind. Is it possible to just remove the tensioner (with the belt held in the correct place on the other pulleys with clips) and rotate the right cam gear individually? Or I at square one of the process of installing a new belt, as in retracing the whole belt around. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[new echo owner]

Would be easier if you start over again! That would allow you to double check before releasing the tensioner.
Remember to roatate the timing belt/gears so the slack part of the belt is on the tensioner side; that would minimize the chance of the timing marks not aligning!

 

[71Corolla]

There are no marks on the belt? What brand belt? You'll need to compress the tensioner (slowly) in a vice and put the pin back in.

 

[babyuncle]

Yeah, like 71 Corolla said, I would just remove the tensioner, compress the push rod (I used a bench vise) and put the grenade pin back in. Then rotate the right cam to line up with the timing belt mark, reinstall the tensioner then release the tensioner's push rod again. In my experience though, release the tensioner's push rod shouldn't cause the belt to slip against the cam teeth. That's because when you torque the tensioner to spec, it should gradually tension the belt already and when you pull the pin, there isn't much more pressure release from the tensioner on to the belt and everything should stay in place.

No tensioner

Tensioner torqued, pin still in

Pin pulled

 

[89camry2vz-fe]

Yeah, like 71 Corolla said, I would just remove the tensioner, compress the push rod (I used a bench vise) and put the grenade pin back in. Then rotate the right cam to line up with the timing belt mark, reinstall the tensioner then release the tensioner's push rod again. In my experience though, release the tensioner's push rod shouldn't cause the belt to slip against the cam teeth. That's because when you torque the tensioner to spec, it should gradually tension the belt already and when you pull the pin, there isn't much more pressure release from the tensioner on to the belt and everything should stay in place.

No tensioner
View attachment 404055

Tensioner torqued, pin still in
View attachment 404056

Pin pulled
View attachment 404057

Thanks, that’s just what I did. The ole girl is running like a 1989 racehorse!

 

[white90dx]

You'll need to compress the tensioner (slowly) in a vice and put the pin back in.

As a note to later readers... slowly means like 10+ minutes from full out to fully compressed again. Make sure the hole for the grenade pin is line before starting. Some tensioners require a certain orientation while compressing too (plunger up, sideways, whatever).

-Charlie