tb job

[team_soy]

well i got every thing off...just wondering who here has used a cam lock bar (if you have one can you post up dimensions) and who hasnt (can you post your method)...the reason why i ask is that i am trying to get my car on the road sooner not later...

[OldYella]

The cam lock bar slipped off one cog more than once, the cog would not spin more than about a half turn and stop. To be quite honest, as long as you have them in the same place in the end, you will be just fine. PS the cogs only attach one way.

[team_soy]

so i just unbolt em and make marks?

[Rated S]

You can see in JHMs demo video of TB job, he just marks them without a lockbar (4 "random" marks on the cogs and block)

http://jhmtuning.com/videos/JHM_2.7t...VD_Trailer.wmv

[team_soy]

ok..and after i saw the video it looks as if the do not move much..but if they did i am guessing that is would be easy for me to put them back into spec

[Daft]

Honestly, I needed to keep more track of the timing marks on the 1.8T thanon the 2.7T. I did my TB in the spring and I barely needed the cam lock bar. I put it on there twice to just make sure the cogs hadn't moved and they hadn't. Almost pointless. There is also the recommendation to use the screw in TDC pin with I couldn't even get to the hole for it.

As long as you take your time, work carefully and smoothly, you really can skip the cam bar. Seriously. Just hand rotate the motor to TDC first before you start to remove the tensioner hardware and make sure not to rotate the cams after that point.

[team_soy]

well the the passenger side cam has rotated and i have reference marks...but i cant rotate it back


help!!!!

[team_soy]

nvm just got it :)...anyone have any tips for this belt though?

everything has gone smoothly but that

[team_soy]

got the belt on :)

should be finishing up tmrrw (rain sux)

[jed3s4]

please just buy a bar and save yourself so much time, effort and possibly money if it gets off timing. it can be done without it but it is never recommended

[system_s4]

You cannot do the timing belt job correctly without the cam bar. It is not there to keep the cams from snapping shut when you take the belt off. It is needed to time the engine up correctly when you put the new belt on. The cam gears are NOT keyed, which means timing marks won't do you any good. The only thing on the cams that is keyed are the little wings that attach to the cam bar. Those are what line everything up, not the cam gears. The gears need to be set onto the cam AFTER you tension the new belt.

[team_soy]

You cannot do the timing belt job correctly without the cam bar. It is not there to keep the cams from snapping shut when you take the belt off. It is needed to time the engine up correctly when you put the new belt on. The cam gears are NOT keyed, which means timing marks won't do you any good. The only thing on the cams that is keyed are the little wings that attach to the cam bar. Those are what line everything up, not the cam gears. The gears need to be set onto the cam AFTER you tension the new belt.

if it can not be done that way can you explain to me how jhm and other are able to do it with out the bar?

and if i do run into that problem with my timing being off..and suggestions on how i could rectify it..just trying to cover all bases...i have no prob doing it all over if that is the case because i ride my bike to class and work and not having a problem with it (gas here is 5 bux a gallon for reg.)

[Matt@JHM]

if it can not be done that way can you explain to me how jhm and other are able to do it with out the bar?

Our video demonstrates this.

It comes free with the purchase of a timing belt kit or available separately in our new store.

[team_soy]

i kinda used your teaser vid :)(shall be ordering your knob soon though)...car should be done tomorrow as i have class at 5 and no work

[HighDesertAudi]

Technically you are supposed use the bar to line up both banks than loosen the cam gears (which are not keyed to the camshafts) remove/install the new belt and pretension the belt than tighten the cam gears back down while the lock bar is still on. You do this because sometimes when the new belt is tensioned it can move the cams slightly out of alignment, thus by loosening the gears from the camshafts you don't run the risk of them being moved while tensioning. There have been people who have had lots of headaches having their cars run like shit and not knowing timing was off slightly due to an improperly installed timing belt.




I've done it both ways, the first time I left the cam gears on and just used JHM's method of making marks and making sure you don't move anything. Everything turned out fine. The second time was when I pulled the engine to replace the turbos and decided to do the cam seals, this time I decided to use the lock bar since I had to remove the cam gears to do the cam seals. Both methods work, and I suggest if your not real comfortable working on the car, pony up the $100 and save the risk of ruining your engine.

[team_soy]

i am real comfortable around my car...i found an easier way to get the belt on from another diy some else posted on here (involving loosening the idler roller) i will let you guys know how everthing goes after i get done

[system_s4]

Save yourself alot of trouble and use the cam bar. After you pop the cam gears off, you will see why you want to use it. Cars with cam gears keyed to the cam have many timing marks and usually come with belts that also have timing marks. The S4 does not and if anything moves, or the belt is a slightly different size, you will be sorry. It doesn't take much to get one tooth off and then you have to take it all apart, again.

[Dowskeet]

Cam Bar = Peace of Mind

Doing it without it means taking your time and double checking everything.. A little peace of mind will save you $1,000's if something goes horribly wrong. But, as mentioned it can be done without a bar such as JHM and even the mechanic that did. Just take your time like you are.

Good luck

Cheers

[team_soy]

thanx..yea i am taking my time and replacing any worn items i find along the way...school owns me so i may have to wait until friday to finish her up

[Dowskeet]

thanx..yea i am taking my time and replacing any worn items i find along the way...school owns me so i may have to wait until friday to finish her up

Do it right.. Take your time, use OEM or very high quality parts, and oh yea. Take your time.

BTW, school owns all. No worries there.

[team_soy]

TEAM SOY FTMFW

she runs like a champ...i would recommend anyone to do it with out the bar...

[BITRBO]

i would recommend anyone to do it with out the bar...

and you're an idiot. how do know how technically/mechanically savy the next person that reads this post is going to be, huh? they might just try it w/o the bar based on your "recommendation" and accidentally cause some serious damage to their engine. please don't recommend something to the general public that is obviously risky and a blatent shortcut.

now if you've done at least one tb job in the past, are very comfrotable working w/ cars, or are an ASE mechanic, have at it... but I wouldn't go and recommend this to a first timer just cause your outcome was fortunate.

[team_soy]

yea you are right..i was speaking to my room mate and his buddies did a tb job that didnt fair so well...i guess i was just more mechanically inclined