Adjusting timing belt tension GAP HELP

[throughfaith323]

I am putting my timing belt on and have gone through all the proper steps. All the marks are aligned properly and I have the right gap on the hydraulic tensioner after rotating the engine and letting it sit for 15min.

HOWEVER, after all was said and done...while measuring the gap I accidentally pried up on the tensioner arm (where it engages with the hydraulic tensioner). This increased the gap and now it is out of spec. So I re-adjusted everything and checked to see if I can pry up on it and I still can.

This begs the question...IS THIS NORMAL/OK? I have a feeling it's just the way the system operates...i.e. when the engine is spinning the hyd tensioner is prob moving up and down (right?) which increase and decreases the gap. I just don't want to install my engine like this if it's not normal and have the hyd tensioner run out of span to set the tension needed.

NOTE: my tensioner arm seems to not rotate as freely as I thought it should. With the belt removed I can pivot the arm up and down but not as smoothly as I thought. I thought it would move as smooth as a bearing but it has a little bit of resistance. Almost like a bearing filled with thick grease. Sorry for the poor explanation.

Thanks!
Ed

 

[fuel]

after leaving it to sit for a while the timing belt tension will return to normal (hopefully).

 

[throughfaith323]

Seems that you are correct. I pried up on it which forced it out of spec, then rotated the engine a little and let it sit for 15min. I then checked it and all was good.

Thanks for the help!