I removed the head to put on a new head gasket , I put the head back on now I cant get enough slack in the chain to get the timing gear and chain back on. Any ideas ??

 

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I have read the manual but it says to move the cam on top back and forth . I did not remove the timing chain cover and the hole it shows to put the screw driver in is on the bottom side. I think I did not get number one TDC or maybe it was not on the compression stroke ? Gear will nearly go on but not quiet. Is there a way to move tension-er ?

 

use something long, skinny and sturdy....I used a 16" 3/8 inch socket extension.....use it to push in the tensioner while you pull up so you can get some slack.

do a search on here, someone might have a picture...I thought i took one when I did it but guess not. Be careful that you don't move the chain off the alignment marks or damage anything

 

That is what to do is to have the tensioner pressure on the chain slacked off and you can easily slip the cam sprocket on.Its the only way to get it on with the timing cover on and it isnt even written or pictured on the Toyota 22re manual.

 

You did not get it to TDC before you pulled the head off?! That should be step one after the switch is cut off. If your not sure about the timing then I would suggest pulling the cover and doing it right. Double check the position of the crank..the notch should be at 12 o'clock. The cam gear will be slightly to the left..not quite 12.

You don't want to get it all together and find out you have to take it back apart because a valve has come acquainted with a piston. Besides, might be a good opportunity to change out the guides if their wore out!

Last time I had the head off I just used a wire hanger around the cam sprocket and tied it to the hood. Keeps tension on the chain so no problems. You could also use something to pry up on the sprocket or long enough to push the tensioner back in.

 

I was having the same problem with my Pickup. The hood was off so i told my buddy to hop in there and give it a tug.It Gave slack about the 1/8'' it needed and went right on

 

... and is the Chain Tensioner one of the guides?

 

Kind of, the tensioner just pushes the chain far enough so it will go into the left side guide (looking at it from the front). Kind of acts like a little ramp.

 

If you removed the head, why not replace the timing chain, water pump and guides at the same time? You may run into sealing issues where the head meets the timing cover. That said, a trick you can try is to rotate the cam backwards about 1/4 turn then hook the chain and rotate it clockwise.
First engage as much of the chain on the cam sproket that you can get, and then rotate the cam clockwise. The chain should pull itself on as the cam rotates. If done right, you will still be in time. But double check by running the motor through by hand and checking the timing marks on the cam and the crank pulley (Crank woodriff key is at 12 o-clock at TDC # 1) and distrubutor

 

The technique for putting the cam sprocket on: put a breaker bar and a 19mm socket on the front of the engine. Move the crank back and forth quickly while a friend slips the sprocket on. This quick movement will give you more than enough slack for the cam sprocket to slip over the cam.

If the engine is not at TDC and the head is on, put a screw driver in the no. 1 spark plug hole. As the piston moves, it will push against the screw driver. When the screw driver stops moving up and begins to move in, you'll be close to TDC.

 

Sorry I was confused. I thought you were trying to get the chain on. Not the sproket on the cam. Try heating the sproket in the oven, say 200 degrees for 20 minutes. Then it should slip right on

 

He's not having a problem with the sprocket not fitting...the sprocket should slip right without heat. The problem is, the tensioner is pushing on the side of the chain while he's pulling up..can't really get any leverage. One way I've learned is to make sure its all lined up and put a long screw driver through one of the holes in the sprocket and pry up and it will all line up. Get it on there enough so you can stop prying and tap it on the cam with the butt end of the screw driver. Torque it down and your done. Quick and painless.