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View Full Version : Timing belt off, WTF?



tjdzor
08-29-2012, 11:34 PM
So i bought my 97 Legacy a few months ago, put about 5-6k on it already, including driving it 2200mi down from Alaska. Shes been running like a champ, but me, not knowing the history of the car, and being glad to pay a bit now to make my car last and not have to worry about it when i really rely on her decided to replace the timing belt and such.

So i picked up an ebay timing kit, nothing crazy, but not bad, GMB idlers and an Aisin waterpump and such. Got a t-stat on the way, etc etc. Resealing my oil pump and whatnot to fix my oil leak and of course put in some cam and crank seals, all typical stuff ya would do.

I tear into the car tonight, and when i get the timing cover off, i could not for the life of me get the timing marks to line up, yes i'm using the right ones. The crank lines up, the passenger side cam lines up, but the drivers cam is 1-2 teeth off. So kept looking, kept trying, but no, so i finally took the belt off and compared it to the new one, sure enough, the marks i put on the belt lined up just right, but where the drivers cam really was is 2 teeth over. Counted teeth and it was 44 on the pass side, and just under 43 on the driverside. So i'm just a bit baffled because i thought this car was running like a champ! Maybe it will even run better now hah!

Am i doing something wrong? Heres a couple crappy pics
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/08/2123162284JPG-1.jpg
Orange mark is the notch on the cam pulley (not the arrow!)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/08/1822857956JPG-1.jpg
Sorry about the lighting, but i marked where the crank was (and lined up) with the dot on the far left, then going right is the direction of rotation arrow, where the rear timing cover cam mark was, and where the cam pulley was actually lined up.

Bearings are def starting to loosen up on a couple idlers and the waterpump so glad i'm in taking care of this stuff, has a Subaru branded belt and most the idlers are NSK. With a supposedly non orig engine, who knows whats been done or not done or the mileage!

This is my first timing belt, just done chains on V8s and such before, no multi cam setups or whatnot!

chuckthefuk
08-30-2012, 11:00 AM
When you purchased your kit did it come with a timing belt tensioner (pre-loaded?) ? Also is your T-stat OEM? Aftermarket units are much shorter and usually cause problems down the line.

Have you consulted the Factory Service Manual and confirmed all your timing marks are set in the proper position?

Temp download --> https://www.dropbox.com/s/eulp6r8hwkg4u ... net%29.zip (https://www.dropbox.com/s/eulp6r8hwkg4uip/Subaru%20Legacy%201997%20FSM%20%28sl-i.net%29.zip)

-Chuck

Dead91silvia
08-30-2012, 11:58 AM
If you got a belt without marks, your life will suck. Takes a ton more time to get things lined up. If you have something like a Gates or Subaru belt, they have the timing marks on them, so you have no guess work.

It took me a few trys to get it right when I did my first belt. Everything needs to line up when the tensioner is released. You might want to get a another belt with the marks on it... You will thank me later...

greenspeed
08-30-2012, 02:06 PM
Sure this sounds very arbitrary, but you are away that you'll need to spin one of the cam gears with a wrench and compress the valves slightly to get the marks to line up...right?

tjdzor
08-30-2012, 07:47 PM
Sure this sounds very arbitrary, but you are away that you'll need to spin one of the cam gears with a wrench and compress the valves slightly to get the marks to line up...right?
HAHA yes, thanks for watching out but yes i will put it in the correct position :grin:

New belt has marks on it, so thats no problem! That pic is of the old Subaru belt that i pulled off.

No i am not replacing the tensioner. Yes on the OE tstat.

And yep i do have the FSM and all marks are correct.

Not working tomorrow so going to try and get it cleaned up tonight and put everything back together tomorrow after an interview.

Thanks for the replies guys!

tjdzor
08-31-2012, 06:59 PM
Well i'm almost wondering if maybe i caused the jump while breaking cam pulleys loose...

Regardless, oil pump has been resealed, aisin waterpump is in, new tstat, lower rad hose and all new hose clamps, the idlers, cam seals, new belt, new serp belt, fresh coolant and everything, running like a top! And ::fingers crossed:: no more oil leak on the front of the motor!

greenspeed
08-31-2012, 08:05 PM
why not throw a tensioner on it while you were in there?

And likely it did jump when you were taking it off that almost always happens but usually very minimal

tjdzor
09-01-2012, 01:33 AM
Its the old style, its a $1000 car, i just didn't figure it was necessary right now.

greenspeed
09-04-2012, 12:17 PM
Its the old style, its a $1000 car, i just didn't figure it was necessary right now.

I just had one go and had to put in new valves :smt012

tjdzor
09-05-2012, 02:30 PM
Its the old style, its a $1000 car, i just didn't figure it was necessary right now.

I just had one go and had to put in new valves :smt012
Ahhh bummer!