Springy Cam - PLEASE HELP!!!

[DansBabyGurl]

We have an 89 3.0 MTX that we cannot get to start. It will turn over, and there is fuel, the spark and everything is fine. It is seriously out of time though, and we think that that may be the reason it won't start. So we tore off thecovers and all, and are dowwn to bare cams w/o belt. The rear cam will not stay where it needs to be to line up w/ the index marks. We wondered if this is supposed to spring to hold the place of the belt tightly, or if it should turn the way the front one does. If it isn't supposed to bounce back to the position it was in, what would be broken to cause it? If it is supposed to behave that way, how do you line up the marks and place the belt properly?? We really need help with this!!! Thanks! Ali

 

[Slo-Sho]

You are lining the index marks on the cam gear at a 12 o'clock position perpendicular to the deck of the block right?

 

[jthomas68]

You just have to be really careful.The cams will want to "spring" on you when lined up at the 12 o`clock position,take your time and you`ll get it.

 

[Yamaha V6]

cheat & move it to 11:45pm . It's the timing marks on the belt that matter, not the gear to the rear timing cover so much. with your hands, you should be able to turn the front cam gear slightly counter-clockwise to match.

Again, so long as the timing marks on the 3 gears match the 3 on the belt, you're fine.

 

[sdpatt]

When the cam pulley's index mark lines up with the raised mark on the rear cover, the spring loads on the various cam lobes should exactly cancel each other out. It is very helpful in your situation to use a strap wrench to rotate the camshaft. The real procedure for changing the timing belt has you line up those marks before you remove the belt. That makes it almost trival to replace the belt.