Glen McCartney

Found the source of my belt tracking towards the front of the cam sprocket (only on the passenger side). There were 2 problems; first the PO at one time had someone change the belt and the drivers sprocket. When they did the belt, they replaced the shoulder bolt on the tensioner arm with a regular bolt and some kind of spacer to make it like a shoulder bolt, almost. It was slightly bent. The other problem is that passenger side sprocket was shot, shiny like a mirror.

The drivers side sprocket was like brand new, 122K miles, which leads me to believe it was changed at some point, which is the cause of my current concern, the cam timing.

I have all the replacement gears. I am using Ken's 32V valve timing tool, (thanks Ken, makes this easier). When I took the initial readings, the driver side is spot on, although the V cut in the sprocket is off slightly from the notch in the rear cover. The passenger side is another story, it is 4 holes to right of zero position on the 32V Timing Tool, which indicates 4 cam degrees retarded.

The question is, which one is correct? Did the PO have the drivers sprocket changed and whoever changed it timed it correctly and the passenger side is off, or is it the other way around?

The car ran strong as it was. I don't have the time or necessary tools to do the full monty cam timing right now.

I guess I have 3 options:
1. Just put new sprockets and match up to current indicators
2. Believe that the previous drivers sprocket replacement was done by competent mechanic and was set correctly and make change to passenger side.
3. Believe that the previous drivers sprocket replacement was done by incompetent mechanic and was set incorrectly, set passenger side to align with notch and make change drivers side to align with notch.

I guess I am asking for opinions on which of the 3 options I should use for now. Will get around to full monty cam timing at some time in the future.

Glen McCartney

Jim_H

If you are at TDC on the crank pulley then the ds is correct and the ps is off.

PorKen

With that monkey business bolt, I would assume the worst. Adjust both to the left (US driver's) side measurement.

You can always go back if it runs funny. (BTW, one cam tooth is 7.5 cam degrees.)

It's possible your '85 cams are ground 4 degrees retard, but I think it's unlikely.

What part number is on the gears? The original 32V are different (on left).


Which way was the left side off center?

Glen McCartney

The part number on both sprockets is the same 928.105.530.01

Here are some pics, first the drivers side which was spot on and had the new or at least not worn sprocket and you can see the belt is centered:



Here is passenger side which had the worn sprocket and the belt is at the front of the sprocket:

This picture show the indicator when it is in the zero hole in the timing tool, you can see the indicator points left of the notch


You can see here that the indicator is in the 4th hole to the right of zero hole when it is lined up in the notch.

PorKen

With that later part number, I would hazard that both gears have been replaced at some point.

Thanks for the pics!

Glen McCartney

Ken,

Thanks for making these tools. It really made my timing belt change and sprocket change easy. They also indicated how far off the cams on the passenger side were. Not only were the cams off, but the sprocket V's were off too. Whoever worked on the belt in the past was sloppy in their work. When I finished, when crank is at TDC, both sides are perfectly aligned with the notch (the indicator on the tool and also the notches in the sprockets).

Then engine feels stronger too!

Everyone should have a set of these, even i f just for changing the timing belts and sprockets!

Thanks again.
Glen

PorKen

Thanks Glen!

The notches on the cam gear are not really important. After the belt is retensioned, you may have to readjust, and the notches won't be so perfect.

With your automatic, when you retension the belt you may want to try (2-3) degrees advance for a little more pep.