I've got a vibration, nasty vibration, at about 3000 RPM. Everyone sugested I inpsect my balance belt for proper instalation and alignment. I am in the middle of that now. I have a couple of questions to clarify some things.
I am using Clark's Garage instructions. They are great.

1. This may sound dumb...when I turn the engine by hand (with a 24mm socket) is it clockwise as I'm looking at the engine or clockwise as I'm sitting in the car?

2. If I were to turn it the wrong direction what could happen?

3. The instructions say to set the engine at TDC. Is it important to do this to align the balance shafts? Can you align the balance shafts with out going to TDC? I understand the importance of TDC for the cam belt. What is the relationship to TDC for the balance shafts?

This place is great...I will soon be a member.

Thanks all

 

1. Clockwise looking at the front of the engine. This is the direction that the engine turns when it runs.

2. The engine would turn backwards. Seriously, I don't think you would damaghe anything turning it backwards.

3. The balance shafts are there to cancel out the vibration of the large 4 cylinder engine. They do that by rotating precisely in time with the engine. The marks used to "align" the balance shafts are referenced to engine TDC. Therefore, you have to put the engine at TDC precisely to align the balance shafts. This with the mark on the camshaft and the mark on the flywheel. As far as I know there is no other way.

Good luck.

 

Great, thanks for the info. I didn't want to start turning it and then find out I went the wrong direction and broke something.

 

Yes, set the engine to tdc for the balance shafts too. The marks on the sprockets will only line up with the marks on the cover at tdc.
Check the lower shaft first as it's very common to have that one 180 degrees out. It would give you a nasty vibration at 3000rpm and be unoticeable at idle.
There are 2 keyways on each sprocket, the woodruff key on the lower shaft goes in the opposite keyway from the 'O' mark on the sprocket. With both sprockets aligned on their marks, both woodruff keys point up. I hope that makes sense.

 

Pete,
That does help, thanks.
From what I see now it is my lower shaft that is out of alignment. Buy a bit at that. I ran out of time tonight to finish it. I should have it aligned and back together on Monday.
Again thanks to all who help.

 

Just a note...I had to take off both my AC and power steering belts to get the belt cover off. Was that the right way to go. I couldn't see another way. I could not find a detailed walk through.

 

Yes, you have to remove the accessory belts. That's just part of the fun.

 

That's right. There's no other way short of cutting the belts off.

 

So that is what that was...fun....
It's wasn't to bad. I had just not found a good walk through.

 

i think mine is alittle too tight, two weeks after install and shes still a whinin some.....make sure you dont over tighten them.

 

Yea wait till you get to the part where you tension the belt, rotate the engine, check the tension, and repeat. I've done it 5 or 6 times to get the belt tension in spec.