timing belt question. help!

[Farmboy57]

In the process of replacing the timing belts on my '90 1500. Got them yesterday thru rock auto, Gates t275's. Followed your excellent excellent article on belt replacement but it leaves me with a couple of questions. The first belt (right side facing engine) was a BEAR to put on. Was unable to put it over the tensioner as it sat so ended up removing the bolt from the slider side of the tensioner to get it on. Replaced the bolt no issue, marks lined up, things not overly taught, and went to the left side. Could not get the timing marks lined up perfectly as the cam marks would move after putting the belt on the tensioner. After removing the belt several times, re-setting the cam with the homemade stick-and-two-screws tool and retrying each time I'm ok now I believe, within I guess a 16th of an inch of the case. I've rotated the crank 360 in both directions no issues. Is this belt fit 'discrepancy' normal? Does it seem one belt is a different size than the other? I'm this far from putting the Honda belts back on and saying damn the torpedos. Looks like they may not be originals anyway as there is the odd scuff to a couple of bolts to tell me I'm not the first in this 30 year old/30k km bike.

[Andy Cote]

You really need to get right in there to look straight on at the marks. It's not uncommon nor a concern if the marks are off half a tooth. It it's a whole tooth, reset the belt. Don't make it hard. Go ahead and remove that tensioner bolt or the entire tensioner to get the belt on. Once on, reinstall the tensioner, loose, with the spring and as per the how-to article, push down a little on the tensioner and tighten the bolts. Then check the tension opposite of the tensioner. If good, check the marks. Congrats. You're done. Almost. Reinstall the covers, the spark plugs and refill the coolant. Now you're done.

[Farmboy57]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm wondering why the right belt was so cranky (sorry) to get on. Thinking now about it, it may have gotten hung up on the flange on the crank or something as the tensioner was no issue or effort to reinstall. Just to clarify, I'm on the same tooth as the timing mark on the left, just the line under "UP" isn't exactly exactly in line with the timing mark on the case but it's not half a tooth off. At one point, I had to dial the left cam wheel in front (early) of the case mark so when the tensioner pushed on the belt it brought the cam in to alignment. Thank you for your help.

[Farmboy57]

It works! I wasn't happy with how the timing marks didn't really line up the first time I put the belts on, so, instead of going forward with fingers crossed I went back, took the the belts off and tried again. Don't really know what I changed the 2nd time around, but it worked out great! It works! Runs like a clock, and went back together with no extra parts left! My best to Admin for the article, it's gold to anyone with a 1500! Thank you thank you thank you.