Timing Belt Tightness?

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Fiat88

Timing Belt Tightness?

Post by Fiat88 »

Planning to start the car tomorrow for the first time in several months due to replacing many mechanical things. My friend and I redid the timing belt last week. I'm concerned about the belt tightness as I can twist the belt about 45 degress between the cams with my thumb and index finger, is this too tight?

If so can someone explain how to loosen the belt just enough to get the right tension? I don't fully understand how to tension the belt, that's why I had him help me with installing it and unfortunately just last week he tore his achilles heel :| playing basketball and needs surgery so he won't be able to help me again. Thanks.
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TulsaSpider
Posts: 1547
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spyder 124 2L
Location: Tulsa, Ok

Re: Timing Belt Tightness?

Post by TulsaSpider »

The spring provides the correct tension. Then it is tightened up and maintained by doing so.
1978 Spyder 1800 make that 2L! Finally making real progress!
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manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: Timing Belt Tightness?

Post by manoa matt »

Whenever I install a timing belt, I usually turn the engine over 4 times by hand to make sure everything is lined up, not binding, and that the tension gets spread out over the length of the belt. Rotating the crank 4 times will let the cam wheels rotate 2 full rotations.
Fiat88

Re: Timing Belt Tightness?

Post by Fiat88 »

manoa matt wrote:Whenever I install a timing belt, I usually turn the engine over 4 times by hand to make sure everything is lined up, not binding, and that the tension gets spread out over the length of the belt. Rotating the crank 4 times will let the cam wheels rotate 2 full rotations.
Yup we made sure to line everything up and I turned the engine over via the crankshaft several times just to be sure.
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