GJCruiser

I've discovered why the 97 3.4 swap I inherited won't start. The PO installed the timing belt with the cams off a few teeth.

DO I have to remove crank pulley to fix this or can I take up tensioner slack while on vehicle to move cams?

Thanks

Nuthuts96

iTrader: (1)

I haven't done what you're trying to do, but I would suspect you can leave the crank pulley where it's at and just remove the tensioner (with the SST) or replace with new tensioner.

on the other hand, since the PO didn't install the belt to spec. (if this is a fact), they may not have tightened the crank pulley bolt to spec. either, and if not, could cut the life short of your "new to you" engine.

I'd do option 2 for peace of mind and an extra hour or two labor (and torque wrench and new bolt costs). I don't like "hoping for the best" when it affects whether or not i'll get to work in the morning or not.

good luck!

GJCruiser

Thanks for the reply. I did remove the harmonic balancer and I glad I did because I discovered another problem. The PO "mashed" the balancer back onto the crankshaft onto what little key exists in front of the gear. The crank is about 120 degrees out of time!

I need to remove the gear to replace the key. Problem is after soaking and heating, I broke one of the 6MM bolts in the gear while trying to pull it off with a puller!

Now, do I:

redrill and retap larger?
pull from behind gear?
cut and/or break gear off?

Thanks

Nuthuts96

iTrader: (1)

I certainly cannot offer any advice as it would be non-useful. In fact, I don't have any... the only "expertise" I have is the timing belt job in its simplest form. I'm certainly not even remotely qualified to respond to engine repair.

What I can do, though, is offer a bump for an answer... and good luck!

TheDurk

I've been watching this thread hoping someone would have some good advice for you. If I had the problem, I'd try everything until something worked. I work on tractors as much as I do cars, and frozen crank pulleys are common on 60 and 70 year old tractors. I have seen farmer mechanics on my tractor board fab up some amazing custom pullers to pull gears/pulleys from behind with a bottle jack pushing on the crank end. I hope you don't have to do that. They seem to work, but it can be pretty dramatic when the thing lets go.