Timing Belt Aligning Marks

[philstar]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I have to ask.

When lining up the marks for the cambelt, which of the two diagrams below is correct?

Do the dots have to line up through the centres of the cogs, or just meet each other where the cogs touch?

Please excuse my inexperience.

(the diagrams are not to scale, they are simply representations)

[bengould]

Neither. There should be a mark on the lower plastic cam cover for the bottom pulley.

Ben

[philstar]

Oh right! Thanks Ben I'll take a look now all the parts are cleaned up

[james butler]

it was my understnding that the diagram on the right was the correct setup.
thats how mine is timed up.

[philstar]

Oh right, does anyone know where I can find a proper diagram detailing this information? The Haynes manual just isn't clear enough, it's a critical setting!

I live in Redditch just south of Birmingham, does anybody know of any VW specialists around the area that I could ask? I'm sure they will have done the job hundreds of times.

[Tim_R]

The notch on the crankshaft pully should be at 12 o'clock. There is an arrow moulded into the cam belt cover that it needs to line up with. The cam and dizzy pullys look about right on your diagram. The dot on the inside of the cam pully lines up with the leading edge of the cam cover and dizzy one should point at the notch on the crank one.

[mark1gls]

The diagram on the right is the correct way of setting the timing.

Its a bit fiddley seeing the marks on the intermediate shaft and crank shaft when the engine is in the car, I use a bit of white paint to make it easier to see.
When the belt is on and tensioned up check the marks again as it really easy to be one tooth out as the intermdiate shaft moves really easy.

[bengould]

Those diagrams are still both wrong. The one on the right is closer, but still wrong.

[url]http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php ... 40352/[url]

Step by step guide on how to CORRECTLY set up your timing.

Ben

[mark1gls]

I had a look at the guide on the Mk1 golf web site, cant say I've ever had to remove the alternator to change the cam belt/check timing, I just take the alternator belt off.

I start by leaving the alternator belt on put the car in 1st gear and lossen but do not remove yet the bolts that hold the water pump pulley on as I dont have a tool to stop it spinning, if the bolts have not been removed for some time you might need to make/use someting else to stop it spinning around.

[james butler]

i live south birmingham and can pop round to help if you like?
im going to redditch tomorrow if you want me to ave a look?

[philstar]

Hey James thankyou for the offer mate, not logged in for a while but I've got all the timing set up now :)

[roccoGTX]

Use a bit of Tippex on the pulleys when you take it apart and DON'T rotate the crankshaft.
Make a note where everything is. Much the same with all 8 valves. Be careful.

John