As I'm changing my timing belt with a new AISIN kit, I tried to get TDC with the timing belt. I put the crank bolt on without the pulley or the woofruff key and turned the bolt clockwise until tight. Because the crank bolt washer was in they way, I could not see that the crank was rotating clockwise while the crank timing gear stayed put. It is off about 90 degrees CW from the timing gear key slot.

What do I do to get the crank backwards 90 degrees? Do I use the woodruff key and balancer and go CCW 90 degrees? Or, do I take all spark plugs out and rotate CW until I line up with timing gear key slot?

Thanks

 

Even though I don't see any warnings in the service manual about not spinning the motor in the opposite direction, I try to avoid that at all costs. It risks introducing slack into the belt on the tensioner side, then the belt can skip teeth.

I would take the plugs out and continue rotating CW slowwwwlyyyyy.

 

Just rotate it back and then put the key back.

It doesn't matter for the engine which way it's spinning, and any slack introduced that way won't matter since you will replace timing belt and set everything in time anyways. You can take the plugs out to make rotating the engine easier.

 

Thanks man, i turned it back by hand from the top after i put the balancer and key back on. It took around 15 small turns but got it back! I then turned the crank bolt with key in properly to TDC....

If the crank is a little off TDC after i take the old belt off, can i turn it CW slightly to adjust?