Cam timing

[DannoVW]

I am in the midst of a timing belt change on my p5. I am having trouble keeping the cams in the right spot. They like to jump a tooth once I put them in the spot. How do I stop this? I do not have the cam lock tool. The lobes on the other cylinders are making it spin and not stay in TDC.

Danny

 

[808MP5]

a friend would be very useful at this point

 

[RABID_MP5]

yeah, without a friend I'd put a wrench or ratchet on each of the bolts that hold on the cam pulleys. Then you can shim up the wrenches with whatever you can find to hold both straight.
ALSO: Make sure you turn the crankshaft over a few times after the belt is on and tight and re-check the cams. I once got it all reassembled and running only to find that it had jumped a tooth somehow

 

[shane02pro5]

Use a ziptie through a hole in one camgear and over the belt to hold it in place then you only have to worry about slipping onto the right tooth on one.

 

[DannoVW]

Silly me, had the exhaust 180 degrees out, reason why it wouldn't stay in the right spot. Its all good now and running like a champ

 

[bgibb68]

how long did it take you??

 

[crazypj]

On wife's 1.6 I took a piece of soft pine (wood) about 1/4" thick 2" wide and tapped it between the sprockets to hold them in place.
Prevented them turning while I messed about with timing belt
PJ