Just did a timing job in my Evo for the first time, I’ve never done a timing job and everything was a learning experience but I started putting my covers and accessory pull-ups back on then decided to turn the motor just to triple check tightness of the belt. It’s tight until I get to almost tdc then it gets really loose.
I’m praying that this is normal so I don’t have to go 5 steps back but I’m not sure so I thought I would ask.


Before tdc tight like before I did my belt

At almost tdc not pushing on the belt

Pushing on belt almost tdc

At tdc, not as loose but still looser than before. Is this just the springs pushing on the gears before tdc or do I have a problem?

 

Proper belt tension is when the pin comes in and out of the tensioner freely after sitting for 15 minutes after you turn the motor over two revolutions.

I don't go by what the belt does between the cam gears as that is not how belt tension is measured, so there's no spec on it.

 

Youre problably OK, but always good to double check the install. Heres a thread that discusses this topic & may help you

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-cams-tdc.html

 

if everything is on properly... i would not think it would ever be that loose.

is your pin out of the tensioner? and if it is... will the pin freely go back in ?

if it wont, then your tension pulley is probably not correct

 

Started the car yesterday and drove it 50 miles total and it still has good tension so I’m pretty sure it’s fine. Thanks for the help guys

 

Seems like you already figured this out but...

There can be slack between the cams when the engine is just sitting. As long as when you rotate the engine over the timing marks all align. That is what indicates the correct number of belt notches are between the two cams. When the engine is just sitting the cams can move a little bit in relation to each other and that's what gives you the slack you observe. This is assuming everything is good with the tensioner etc...