When most people are experiancing the problem I am currently having, they post a thread titled, "Please Help!!!" or "Help me!!!" I was leaning towards, "Uh oh, I think I broke my engine!" but desided that was overly dramatic. Here's the skinny. I did my timing belt this last weekend....wrong. Clearly I forgot to triple check and the belt was off by a little. I know this because I took the car back apart yesterday, and could see I botched it. I think I was off like one or two notches. Luckily, The 2000 Outback has a non-interference engine and I don't think I broke anything by running it for 15 minutes with the timing wrong. Here comes the bad part... I was adjusting the right cam to be in proper alignment, when it jumped away from me and made 3/4 of a rotation. (Like it was spring loaded) I also heard a high pitched clank when it did that. This leads me to the two questions that kept me awake last night. First, did I break a valve or anything when spinning the right cam? Second, how can I tell, now that I'm totally confused, if everything is back in alignment? Thanks for the help!
The 2000 OBK is definatly a interference engine. All 2.5 SOHCs are. Two teeth probably isnt enough to bend valves though. Put the belt back on correctly, fire it up, You'll know right away if you have a bent valve.
Correct me if im wrong but if you have the crank at TDC (all 4 pistons half stroke) you can turn any cam all day long without hitting a piston? This is provided the crank stayed at TDC when the cam jumped.
this will get you going in the right direction. However, I don't know if the clearances and such are the same for your motor...but this should give you a basic idea. http://www.prosubaru.com/tech/install/stitimingbelt.pdf
Ok let me clarify TDC as the timing mark lined up with the boss. Not the traditional #1 at top of stroke. Like this: http://www.oksubaru.com/gallery/v/Misc/Tbelt/P1010390.JPG.html Causing all 4 pistons to be half stroke seen here: http://www.oksubaru.com/gallery/v/Misc/Tbelt/P1010388.JPG.html http://www.oksubaru.com/gallery/v/Misc/Tbelt/P1010389.JPG.html Leaving you this much room for valves to do as they please: http://www.oksubaru.com/gallery/v/Misc/Tbelt/P1010392.JPG.html I guess i dont see how you can put a valve into the piston putting on the timing belt?
I have the Crank shaft lined up correctly. Each of the cams is in the correct location, but the right cam has been rotated once independently of everything else. Even though the mark has been lined up again, I'm wondering if that means everything is lined up. Will I damage anything by putting the belt on and starting the car given this scenario?
The marks on the belt need to be lined up with the marks on the pulleys, Ive started my car and a few others with the front of the engine torn apart to see if the timing is correct.
Sweet! I'll do that when I get off work tonight and let you know how it goes. Thanks for all of the input and help
If I were you, I would pull the belt all the way off again, and re-align all the marks on the belt with both of the cam pulleys, and the crank sprocket. Just make sure you put the pin in the tensioner before you pull off the belt! And yes, the LH (drivers side) will be sprung. When that mark is aligned correctly, you have some of the valves open.
Done! Lined everything up again, and had my assistant hold the belt in place while I put the pulley in and then dropped the tensioner. Wahoo!!! Thanks for the reassuring input. Once I was off coarse, I was feeling a little out of my depth. Nothing lost but time on this project, and lots of experience gained! Thanks again!!! -Markus
Congrats Markus!!! There's nothing like getting a project like this done...the feeling of accomplishment does wonders for your confidence!! Good job!
