QuestionHello,
I'm trying to change the timing belt on a 1987 Hyundai Excel 1.5 automatic. I'm having trouble getting the main crankshaft pulley bolt off. I just wanted to verify that it's not "reverse threaded"... I'm having trouble holdig the crankshaft still-the timing belt tensioner went out, so the belt is completely loose, and I don't know how to keep the pulley from turning so I can get the bolt off. I've tried using an impact wrench, but I didn't have any success, mainly because I have to use an extension, and I know that I lose of lot of the power when using an extension. "There's not enough room, even if I lower the engine, to get the wrench directly on the bolt." Any suggestions, tips, help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Also, normally I line up the marks before taking anything off...now it's all "unaligned" already. I saw the mark on the camshaft pulley, and I believe I saw the "tick mark" on the crank pulley....do you know, are they both supposed to be "straight up 12:00" to be aligned, or is there some other way they line up. Sorry for the long question. Thanks again for your help.
AnswerTo keep the crankshaft from turning, you'll probably need to remove the flywheel cover at the bottom of the bell housing and jam a large screwdrive in the teeth while someone else breaks the bolt loose.
To set the cam and crank timing, align as follows:
Rotate the camshaft so that the timing mark on the sprocket aligns with the mark (I believe it's a tit or small pointer) on the head. The mark will be at approximately 3 O'Clock and the dowel on the camshaft will be at 12 O'Clock.
Rotate the crankshaft so that the mark on the crank sprocket aligns with the mark on the oil pump housing. This should be at about 1 O'Clock. As I recall, I typically didn't separate the crank pulley from the sprocket. The mark on the pulley aligns with the mark on the sprocket. I would paint the tooth on the sprocket that aligned with the mark on the pulley and then I could view and align from above.
