Awm timing marks, am I paranoid?

[zandrew]

I installed the solid timing belt tensioner from ie today (kind of but a different story) and reinstalled the rai timing belt but I did not pay attention to the timing before hand. The cams are timed properly, while the head was off I took a dial indicator and marked TDC which is exactly as it should be when comparing the timing belt sprocket to the front main seal. Like in picture 3 of post 5 here

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...lignment-marks

I installed the solid tensioner and hydro style tensioner is deleted but I found a way to reuse the old tensioner in a fixed position since I did not have the tensioning tool required to use the one included with the ie kit. Once I align the mark on the crank pulley to the lower timing belt cover and then check the timing mark for the belt at the cam it looks off. Not by much but I swear the cam mark is a little to the right of the mark that is on the cam cover.

Is this right?

[Davdraco1]

Both times i did a timing belt, the timing gear is off by like a 1/4 of a tooth. They never line perfectly up for me.

[ActiveMonkey]

They are always off for a bit for me too.

Recently my timing belt stripped and boom! After teardown and putting on the new head I had to set time manually. I aligned the cams just as you did using the photos you linked to and then marked the cam gear to the valve cover for later reference. Then manually rotated the crank until the #1 piston was at TDC. I had the head off when I set the piston to TDC and marked the crank sprocket. You can double check this by pulling the #1 piston spark plug and inserting as long screw driver which contacts the piston, then (with timing belt off) rotate the crank manually until the screw driver is as high as it will go. I must have double checked this a dozen times before being satisfied it was correct.

[Scottydo]

I have had this issue and when installing i usually turn the cam gear back a pinch so when tensioning it is aligned perfectly. I see your in WV if your close i can send over my manual tensioner tool.