Timing Belt Change Marks not lining up

TnRickB · May 21, 2016

I have a 1998 Aspencade that I am going through and repairing items. One of the items on the list was to change the timing belts. I found much of the documentation to change them to be extremely helpful and had not real issues. However, when we took the covers off, the right side belt (sitting on bike) was loose and the timing mark would not line up straight. The bike was running with it in this position and would start well. I assumed we could just set the right side pulley in the correct position after reading several items, but I cannot seem to get the item to set correctly. When we pull the belt back on it backs it back into the same position. Is there something I am missing or is there a potential that something is damaged that will not let it sit correctly. I have enclosed pictures of the current position of the position marks. Left side and center are on and the right side is about a quarter inch off. The only adjustment to the pulley I have tried is moving it back into position. Any thoughts?

I changed another set of belts on a different Goldwing 2 weeks ago and all marks lined up without issue. The tutorial was dead on.

DaveO430 · May 21, 2016

Looks like it is a full tooth off, may be the angle of the shot. Take the belt off the pulley and turn the pulley CCW 1 tooth and put the belt back on.

jlaframboise · May 21, 2016

I agree with Dave. It looks like it's off a little less than 1 tooth. A half tooth is very common and considered well within specs. Now when you check these marks. Be sure to go past just a hair then back to the mark. This will take extra tension off the belt beyond what you want from the tensioners and give you a more acurate reading. If you rotate the engine in the opposite direction, you may see that the other mark is off this time. The timing needs to be off by several teeth before you have to worry about interferance issues.

TnRickB · May 21, 2016

I think half tooth is more accurate. I need to work on my picture taking skills. I am going to try to adjust for the item by pulling the belt back off and then see where we are at. If a half tooth is in spec... We may be considering it to be fixed. It threw me off because the last one we did was picture perfect to the tutorial and then I jump into this one and it is off.....I don't like off. It makes me feel bad. I will play with it a bit more and respond back. Thanks for the help.

gumbyred · May 22, 2016

I just replaced my belts last week also. A half tooth off was on the left hand side on mine also. I had the spark plugs out to make it easier to turn the engine over counter clock wise. Put in new plugs. Must have turned the engine around about a dozen times by hand. No valve contact. Does run better with the new plugs, and belts now. All the old plugs looked identical. White/gray tip.
gumbyred

flylow · May 22, 2016

If it looked like that before you took the old belt off, it will be just fine. If not then see post 2 above.

Ken Bergen · May 22, 2016

If it's a half tooth or less off you'll never get it any better.:surprise:

TnRickB · May 23, 2016

I got everything to within a half tooth.... Thanks everyone for the input. It just did not seem right, but I guess that is just the way it is. Anyway, it is one more item completed on my list. Thanks.

Timing Belt Change Marks not lining up

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