Cam belt change, now don't run :(

[Ashrocco]

I changed the cam belt but foolishly didn't mark up the bottom pulley.

I can't seem to find and marking from the factory to help me line it up!! Help!

It's a 1.8 8v btw.

[Nate]

take the belt off. remove no1 spark plug. insert a bit of stiff wire or similar down the plug hole and turn the engine. you will be able to feel when the piston is at the top of its travel. the bottom end is now at tdc. you presumably can already see tdc markings on the cam pulley and dizzy pulley?

[Ashrocco]

Cheers nate, but i just found the exact same info as you have posted, posted ages ago on another forum.

Sorted now, cheers anyway bud!

[Ashrocco]

ok looks like I jumped the gun, I have got it running but the it very tapperty.

I noticed someone else posted the same, how was this recitfied.

I have set the timing marks exactly and tried advancing the cam a tooth, and the dizzy on.

I have left it for today, but I would appriciate any advice guys.

[Ashrocco]

Should I be setting the crank to TDC or 6 degrees before TDC?

There are 2 makes on the flywheel (i have just found out) I have it set to 6 degrees before.

[Boumsong]

I'd go for TDC..Usually it's best to aim for TDC or anywhere between 0 and 16degree advance. Anything before TDC counts as pretty much predet which is shockingly bad for engines.

[Ashrocco]

Cheers,

It was doing my head in, can't wait to get at it again tomorrow

[Ashrocco]

Set it to TDC and set the cam to line up with the rocker cover, still sounds tapperty.

tried it a tooth before TDC sounds the same :(

Help!!!

[fonzooorooo]

Is your intermediate shaft in the right position? If not, it'll throw the dizzy out of line, so your ignition timing'll be out... just a thought.

[Ashrocco]

It wasn't the first time, it is now but I have rotated the dizzy so that the rota arm lines up with the mark and is firing on 1 when all other makrs are lined up.

[Nate]

is it sounding like tappets (common cold start top end of the engine noise that these engines make) or does it sound like pinking (which i'm struggling to describe having just woken up)

[Ashrocco]

Well it was like a cold start but alot louder, but after I took it for a drive it quietened down. Now after a longer drive it doesn't do it anymore.

I'm borrowing a strobe light tomorrow, after setting the timing with that I think it'll be fine.

Cheers for the responses, I hope it's sorted now.

Have you heard of this happening before? Really tapperty after a cambelt change then settling down by itself?

[Nate]

has it been parked up for loads longer than usual while the work was done? could be that it just doesn't get left this long for the oil to drain out the tappets?

[Ashrocco]

No, I drove back from the autoshop with the tensioner then got straight onto it, It was jacked up at an angle for a few hours though.

Run's pretty good now