Forrest wrote:
> <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.
>
>

then you're either timing to the wrong mark, or your timing light is set
wrong. done right, the marks absolutely line up, absolutely 100% of the
time.