Replacing 4age Bigport Timing Belt

[Matt]

Hi All,

Followed the guides out there and just wanted to make sure that i've installed the timing belt correctly. I'm re-using the original belt as it doesn't appear to be all that old.

I lined up the timing marks on the cam gears, lined up the mark on the bottom crank pulley, installed the belt with the writing so i can read it. The tensioner spring appears to be too sloppy and in need of replacing, but given i won't get one today i was hoping to get the car running.

I've manually assisted the tensioner a little. I realise this isn't the "right" way to do it, but all the spring does is set the tension automatically right?

I guess the only way to know for sure is to check this video, appreciate your time

Matt

[tottacrolla]

The belt tension looks ok.
My advice with the spring is that if you are at all unsure of it either replace it with a new one
or remove it completely, it does nothing once the pulley is tightened.
I had a loose spring jump off and pierce the cambelt once, it was going around and around on
the belt lol.
Maybe I can't see it in the video but should'nt there be a mark on the crank pulley that lines up
with the 'dot' on th engine. The crank orientation looks right though.
Always turn the engine over at the crank pulley.

[Matt]

Thanks for the reply.

The notch on the crank timing gear lines up with the dot on the oil pump, just hard for it to be visible from my phone. I didn't think turning it over by the cam gears would hurt, but it's good to know that is a bad thing. I guess it is the same as turning the engine anti-clockwise, in that it doesn't hurt it, but the belt can skip.

I'll remove the spring totally, having never done a timing belt before it was best to ask for re-assurance.

[Golberg]

Personally I'd replace the spring with a new one.

Its a bit of reassurance that if the bolt through the tensioner comes loose, the timing belt doesn't jump right off.

The springs are only a couple of dollars from toyota.