Broken Timing Belt

[tsumrall]

Hello,

I just got a 1990 Legacy Wagon (Rosie) and love it. I don't care if it breaks because when I fix it I'll feel like I'm fixing something worth fixing.

Well, time to fix it. The water pump froze up and as soon as the car stopped the belt snapped.

I've searched the forum (broken timing belt) but have not had luck with timing after a break.

I have a Chilton's and it goes through the belt replacement but nothing on timing after a break. Also the manual shows notches on the rear timing belt covers at 12:00 but I don't see any. I see the lines on the sprockets but nothing to align to. Even the crank is iffy in regards to a mark on the block.

So the question is: How do I time after a break knowing the crank has turned afterwards?

Is it really as simple as aligning the belt marks to the sprockets and crank marks? Seems unlikely. No chance of 180 degrees out?

My old Army training tells me that the correct piston(s) be in one of the stroke positions but I don't have much OHC experience.

All advice will be useful.
TIA

Tim

[Legacy777]

Welcome Tim,

All you need to do is align the marks. There are several timing belt threads. I'd recommend searching some more. Here are scans from the factory manual, as well as pictures from my timing belt work

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt1.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt2.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt3.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt4.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt5.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt6.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt7.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... _belt8.jpg

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... imingbelt/

[tsumrall]

Thanks, great stuff .. but alas the notches in the covers do not exist. I'm suspecting non-OEM rear covers. I'll post a picture tonight so you don't think I'm totally incompetent :)

I could just use 12:00 but that could leave me a notch off.

The pictures did resolve the iffy mark on the crank assuming the notch shown is it.

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... P_2703.JPG

[ciper]

Dont use the marks. Count teeth like the service manual says to. If you use the marks there is a very high chance you will be off by one tooth on the drivers side (iirc). You could always buy an OEM belt and it has all the markings painted on it!