I just did my timing belt (like it's been taking weeks) and
when my camshaft is perfectly aligned at TDC on cyl #1, i can never get the crankshaft exactly exactly exactly in line. The CRANKSHAFT timing belt pulley is always either 1/2 tooth shy of north or 1/2 tooth past north when the camshaft pulley is aligned with the head. When I say the camshaft pulley is aligned with the head, I mean I do it by putting a straightedge across the head and lining up the mark on the camshaft pulley exactly with the straightedge.
I don't feel any interference and can't conceive of how to get them to line up perfectly perfectly after tensioning, as the smallest adjustment you can do with the belt is adjust it by a full tooth. So the crankshaft is either slighly advanced (1/2 a tooth) of the camshaft or slightly behind (1/2) the camshaft. At this point, I'm assuming that's ok because I've done it like 8 times now, shifting the belt back and forth. I'm assuming there's a small amount of tolerance in there for the timing, as no machines are perfect.
There appears to be no interference, as I've rotated the engine through all 4 cyls multiple times and all I feel is what I think is normal resistance of valve springs against the rocker arms. Also, I adjusted the valve clearances after setting the timing belt up.
So: If I have to choose between having the camshaft 1/2 of a camshaft pulley tooth ahead of the crankshaft, or having it 1/2 of a camshaft pulley tooth behind,
a) which would be better from either engine safety/health, and
(b) how would either choice affect the effective powerband of the engine?
thanks!
when my camshaft is perfectly aligned at TDC on cyl #1, i can never get the crankshaft exactly exactly exactly in line. The CRANKSHAFT timing belt pulley is always either 1/2 tooth shy of north or 1/2 tooth past north when the camshaft pulley is aligned with the head. When I say the camshaft pulley is aligned with the head, I mean I do it by putting a straightedge across the head and lining up the mark on the camshaft pulley exactly with the straightedge.
I don't feel any interference and can't conceive of how to get them to line up perfectly perfectly after tensioning, as the smallest adjustment you can do with the belt is adjust it by a full tooth. So the crankshaft is either slighly advanced (1/2 a tooth) of the camshaft or slightly behind (1/2) the camshaft. At this point, I'm assuming that's ok because I've done it like 8 times now, shifting the belt back and forth. I'm assuming there's a small amount of tolerance in there for the timing, as no machines are perfect.
There appears to be no interference, as I've rotated the engine through all 4 cyls multiple times and all I feel is what I think is normal resistance of valve springs against the rocker arms. Also, I adjusted the valve clearances after setting the timing belt up.
So: If I have to choose between having the camshaft 1/2 of a camshaft pulley tooth ahead of the crankshaft, or having it 1/2 of a camshaft pulley tooth behind,
a) which would be better from either engine safety/health, and
(b) how would either choice affect the effective powerband of the engine?
thanks!