I messed up on the timing belt change

NJ KJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:57 am

So i screwed up on the timing belt change and the the cams moved slightly... i marked them a head of time in the event of such an occasion, so i put them back to where they were supposed to be and reassembled everything... when i go to start it it seams to take an extra crank in order to kick over... i think the timing might be off by a notch... does any one know where i can find the instructions to re time the the engine from scratch?

GreenDieselEngineering · **Joined:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1111

Here is a link to the procedure we posted:

http://www.greendieselengineering.com/f ... st/72.page

Without the cam locking pins and cam gear holding tool, the timing is very difficult to get exactly correct. Hopefully this helps you out.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:45 am

I did mine this weekend and I was scared to death that we were going to have the same problem. Had to remove the cam sprockets to get the front cover off for a water pump swap, then when you go to tighten the cam sprockets back on, there is no keyway! So the sprocket can spin freely as you are tightening and I was afraid the cam would move a little before the sprocket bolt took full torque. What a PITA these engines can be.

Good luck with your engine timing. The tool kit that GDE rents out is on it's way back to them right now so if you need it give them a call.

NJ KJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:58 pm

Thanks for the help, do you sell the cam locks and gear holders?

UFO · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:47 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

I did mine this weekend and I was scared to death that we were going to have the same problem. Had to remove the cam sprockets to get the front cover off for a water pump swap, then when you go to tighten the cam sprockets back on, there is no keyway! So the sprocket can spin freely as you are tightening and I was afraid the cam would move a little before the sprocket bolt took full torque. What a PITA these engines can be.

Good luck with your engine timing. The tool kit that GDE rents out is on it's way back to them right now so if you need it give them a call.

Although I have not performed a timing belt replacement on a VW TDI, this sounds a lot like it. Pin the cams with a tool, then the cam gears get tightened after the tensioner is set.

Metal Man · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:36 pm

I've done hundreds of TDI belts and yes you lock the cam in place then tighten the cam gear. I can't believe the CRD isn't the same.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:09 pm

There's a write up in the CRD tech section... just sayin.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

LibertyCRD wrote:

I did mine this weekend and I was scared to death that we were going to have the same problem. Had to remove the cam sprockets to get the front cover off for a water pump swap, then when you go to tighten the cam sprockets back on, there is no keyway! So the sprocket can spin freely as you are tightening and I was afraid the cam would move a little before the sprocket bolt took full torque. What a PITA these engines can be.

Good luck with your engine timing. The tool kit that GDE rents out is on it's way back to them right now so if you need it give them a call.

Where did you get all the torque specs. for the job? I will be replacing the water pump also.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:04 pm

painemann wrote:

LibertyCRD wrote:

I did mine this weekend and I was scared to death that we were going to have the same problem. Had to remove the cam sprockets to get the front cover off for a water pump swap, then when you go to tighten the cam sprockets back on, there is no keyway! So the sprocket can spin freely as you are tightening and I was afraid the cam would move a little before the sprocket bolt took full torque. What a PITA these engines can be.

Good luck with your engine timing. The tool kit that GDE rents out is on it's way back to them right now so if you need it give them a call.

Where did you get all the torque specs. for the job? I will be replacing the water pump also.

I didn't use torque specs. or a service manual. I tapped into 35 years of experience as a heavy equipment/forklift mechanic to give it the right touch. :mrgreen:

When we finished the job, she purred like a kitten. But that water pump.... oh boy that's the worst part of the job for sure.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

LibertyCRD wrote:

painemann wrote:

LibertyCRD wrote:

I did mine this weekend and I was scared to death that we were going to have the same problem. Had to remove the cam sprockets to get the front cover off for a water pump swap, then when you go to tighten the cam sprockets back on, there is no keyway! So the sprocket can spin freely as you are tightening and I was afraid the cam would move a little before the sprocket bolt took full torque. What a PITA these engines can be.

Good luck with your engine timing. The tool kit that GDE rents out is on it's way back to them right now so if you need it give them a call.

Where did you get all the torque specs. for the job? I will be replacing the water pump also.

I didn't use torque specs. or a service manual. I tapped into 35 years of experience as a heavy equipment/forklift mechanic to give it the right touch. :mrgreen:

When we finished the job, she purred like a kitten. But that water pump.... oh boy that's the worst part of the job for sure.

Got ya, you said "full torque" so I figured you had the spec.

ANy updates on the timing?

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:12 am

painemann wrote:

Where did you get all the torque specs. for the job? I will be replacing the water pump also.

Did you download the FSM yet? If notread up on Sam's noob post for where you can get it :seuss:

Also the 05 and 06 editions seems to be a little different so get them both and you should be able to find the proper settings.
Experience or not this is an area where mistakes can be expensive :furious:

dieseldawg · **Posted:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:26 pm

So to clarify, with the pins installed in the cams and the VM tool attached to take the slack out of the belt across the top the cam gears, it is safe to fully torque the cam gear bolts down? Correct?

click23 · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 9:22 am **Posts:** 309

dieseldawg wrote:

So to clarify, with the pins installed in the cams and the VM tool attached to take the slack out of the belt across the top the cam gears, it is safe to fully torque the cam gear bolts down? Correct?

That is what the FSM says to do, and I did it without those little pins breaking.

Squeeto · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:09 am

dieseldawg wrote:

So to clarify, with the pins installed in the cams and the VM tool attached to take the slack out of the belt across the top the cam gears, it is safe to fully torque the cam gear bolts down? Correct?

Time comes, I'll use this in the cam sprocket spokes so the locking pins don't shear.

The aerospace-age rust gives better grip. :wink:

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

Squeeto wrote:

dieseldawg wrote:

So to clarify, with the pins installed in the cams and the VM tool attached to take the slack out of the belt across the top the cam gears, it is safe to fully torque the cam gear bolts down? Correct?

Time comes, I'll use this in the cam sprocket spokes so the locking pins don't shear.

The aerospace-age rust gives better grip. :wink:

seems like a good idea!

I messed up on the timing belt change

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