<bi241@scn.org> wrote in message
news:007aa057-fec6-454e-a205-b5284ae1f5af@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 11, 9:07 pm, "Forrest" <REMOVETHISrunforre...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> The timing belt went on my 89 Accord SEI. It's the 2 liter SOHC with auto
>> trans. No damage to pistons or valves and put a new one on it. The
>> problem
>> is that now I can't turn the dist enough to get it to advance to the red
>> timing mark, where it used to be. I did this job once, several years ago
>> and
>> didn't have any problems. I positioned the cam sprocket with the "up"
>> mark
>> up and the little mark on each side even with the top of the head. I have
>> the crank at TDC. I made sure of it by checking the #1 piston's travel.
>> The
>> flywheel, or whatever it is that has the marks, has, from retard side to
>> advance side, a hash mark and a "T" next to it. That checks out as TDC.
>> After that, there is about a half inch gap and then, what looks like the
>> letter (G) .. another gap and then about 4 hash marks with the middle one
>> red. After the red one is, what looks like the number "5". I assume that
>> the
>> one to the left of the red is the number "1", making it (15), for the
>> number
>> of degrease that it's supposed to be set before TDC. Anywhoo ... I can't
>> get it to advance past the (G) looking mark which is way before the red
>> one.
>> I tore it back apart and rechecked the cam sprocket and the TDC mark ...
>> they are OK.
>>
>> The procedure, according to the "Haynes" book, for setting ignition
>> timing
>> is to disconnect and plug the two vacuum hoses that go to the advance and
>> then set it to 15 BTDC, reconnect the hoses and you're good to go. That's
>> how I did it last time. Don't know why I can't duplicate it.
>>
>> I got a hold of an Accord service manual and it tells you to set it at 4
>> BTDC with the hoses disconnected and plugged. There is no 4 degree mark.
>> I
>> guess supposedly, it's supposed to go to 15 after rehooking the vac
>> advance?
>> I replaced the vac advance a few years ago. I just checked it and it
>> holds,
>> with vac pump on either connection. It also mentions how to check for
>> vacuum
>> from the hoses and suggests that if not there, it might be a problem with
>> the "Ignition control solenoid valve". To check that you are supposed to
>> have the engine running and warmed up. Anyway, I have it torn apart with
>> belt on and if I have to adjust the belt, now's the time.
>>
>> It seems like, to be able to do it the Haynes way, I would have to move
>> the
>> belt a tooth. That's the only way I'll be able to get it to advance the
>> ign.
>> timing to 15 BTDC. Any help or thoughts on this would be greatly
>> appreciated. Thanks in advance
>
>
> after initial installation of the belt, you must rotate the crankshaft
> counter-clockwise to check the cam timing
> tighten the tensioner and re-check the timing
>
> good luck

Been there, done that. I even drove it around before taking it apart again.
All marks line up, while turning the crank in the running direction, which
tensions the belt properly, and still can't turn the distributor enough,
toward the advance direction, to set the ignition timing to the red 15
degree mark. It maxes out about half way between TDC and the red mark.