Re: details of timing belt procedure (C-GT)

[Ken <kkeith@qnet.com>]

Allan Jones wrote:

> Is it neccesary that the belt be over those gears to hold things in place while the crankshaft center bolt 
> is broken loose?

It would really suck if the tranny popped out of gear (assuming you try
that method of hold the crank still) while turning the bolt.  Without
the belt on, ouch!  This happened to a lister recently.  Remember,
folks?
 
> Remove the spark plugs in order to hear a change in pressure while checking the lifters? Or....

Remove the plugs so you don't have to fight engine compression while
turning it, eh.  Also, with no plugs, is there any pressure?  Guess so,
if you turned it fast enough.  Just a thought.

> This slack starts at the point where one starts to push down, or at the lowest point of that cam lobe?

If I understand it correctly, slack is slack.  You shouldn't be able to
push it down more than 'X' amount, with the lobe "off" or "facing away"
from the lifter.  If you're He-Man (registered trademark), then you
might just push the valve open, in which case it would seem like there
was play.  If you're that strong, though, you should ride a bicycle with
really high gearing, cause you don't need a car! ;-)  (also, you could
hold the crank still while you twist off the pulley bolt.  Seriously
tho, if it moves down more than the "whatever" measurement (what it is 1
mm?), then it's bad.  It's recommended you replace them in sets.

> > The engine should be hot, BTW, (the fans should have run once at least) and it should have run at 2500 rpm > > for at least two minutes.
 
> This is to have either pressure or some gas in the cylinders while checking the lifters so one can hear the > opening of the valve, true?

That's so the oil's at operating temperature, and is inside the
lifters.  Empty lifters and cold oil cause lifters that don't stay...
how do I say it, "big", or "extended", or how about "pumped up".  That's
why lifter noise is worse upon first startup.  That, and because the
oil's in the pan and not the lifters.

Sincerely,

Ken

"Surely, I jest"

p.s.  I hope all this "I know what I'm talking about" stuff doesn't come
back and bite me in the arse when I do my own "cam install/timing belt,
lifters, and water pump replace" project sometime this month.  Until
then, I sit and look at my Schrick cam, which sits in a box in the
living room.  *sigh*  ;-)