How Do The Toothed Sprockets Go On?

[86esprits3]

I am putting back together my 1986 HCI esprit. I live in the US, so I believe the timing marks are different? I have a manual and took tons of photos during disassembly. My intake cam pulley has a red dot on it, and my exhaust pulley has a blue dot on it. Also I believe the manual states that these colored dots and raised dimples of the sprocket face outwards, or forward.

My distributor/oil pump sprocket has a green dot, and nowhere in the manual does it state what color it should be, and if the colored dot should face outward (forward) or not. When I took it apart the dot on the oil pump/distributor sprocket was facing inwards (rear of car) along with raised dimple-I dont think this is correct-why should one go on differently than the other 2? What does everyone think? I bought the car after a brief drive, so I dont really know if it was timed correctly.

[DanR]

They are reversible. Once fitted the "I" should face forward on the inlet cam and the "E" forward on the exhaust cam. The green dot can be swapped with the red dot and used on the inlet. It and the blue dot are slighty retarded compared to the green dot. As for dissy you can fine tune it after assembly.

Before turning the engine over double check that when #1 is ATDC on firing, the lobes for both cams are pointing outwards and the bases off the valve stems

Whoops I got that wrong. When you align the dots at TDC do so with the green spot and the "IN" on the inlet and the coloured (blue) dot and "EX" on the exhaust cam.

Edited July 17, 2007 by DanR

[86esprits3]

Do ALL 3 sprockets mount with the colored dot facing forward?

[DanR]

Are you using a workshop manual? I'm assuming your only confusion is because of the double markings on each side of the pulley.

Because the pulleys are reversible make sure the coloured dot is next to either IN or Ex when setting them up as in the photo. Doing so establishes the correct keyway orientation when you align the marks and fit the belt.

[86esprits3]

I have a manual, but it does not say how the oil pump sprocket should be installed. If it is installed backwards, the dot is NOT in the right place! I am pretty sure that colored dots all face forward on all 3 sprockets.

[DanR]

I don't have the distributor so maybe someone else should chime in here.

I think it won't matter which way you fit the pulley for the distributor/oil pump jackshaft since the only thing critical will be synchronizing the dissy firing #1. Just as long as the cam pulleys and main pulley are set you should be right.

Any S3 engine people who can advise if it does matter?

[DanR]

This help?

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EGuides/ET...l/Cambelts.html

[WayneB]

If you want the rotor arm in the distributor to be phased correctly with the towers on the distributor cap , it is preferable to align the dot on the pulley (facing out) with the crankshaft centreline (as per the illus in the manual)

If you dont do this, the engine might still run, but as you advance or retard the distributor (when setting the static timing) the rotor arm might end up closer to the adjoining tower (distributor cap) for another cylinder (and cause a misfire).

[flyingvking]

Im having the same problem with my 91 carb turbo! the timing was out on the pulley when i brought the car so i managed to get the timing right by turning the distributor right round using a thinner oil filter! but now im changing the belt i wont to get the distributor pulley as it should be so i'll have full movement on the distributor its self! ive timed the rest of the engine up to tdc and i have the dizzy cap off so i can see the rotor arm position, my pulley has a yellow colourd mark on the outside of the pulley (facing away from engine) and a dimple about 150 degrees around from this mark. i also have on this pulley EX and IN marks but i think maybe this is just a standard pulleys markings??

Well when i line up my yellow mark with the centre of the crank pully bolt, the rotor arm points inbetween firing posts! is this correct?

If i wont to start from scratch do i aim my rotor arm at at any post and make that post/cylinder no.1 then 3,4,2 clockwise? and should the arm be pointing slightly past the post as in 9 degrees after TDC as i have timed the engine at TDC?

It would be nice to set the pulley as it should be, but the way i see it is aslong as the rotor arm is pointing at No.1 in any position in the dizzy cap duz! it matter??

please help as i have taken the manifold off to get to the dizzy and i have torn the already new manifold gasket!! doh!

[Mesprit87]

I'll try to have a look at mine this weekend (sunday), as far as I know it still has its original belt, my new belt is ready.

I just started the job 2 days ago, the anti-freeze is out but got a little sidetracked when I found out my heather core went south!

So if I'm tired of tearing the interior apart, I'll take a few minutes and put it to TDC.

Stay posted

Luc

[Mesprit87]

Ok,

So here is what I have on my '87 with the engine at TDC:

On the cams: blue dot on the exhaust sprocket in line with the red dot on the intake one when looking aft:

When looking fwd, I still have a blue dot on the exhaust and what seems to be a clear one on the intake (maybe the paint came off):

As for the other sprocket, I can't tell the color of the dot but looking aft, the dot points in line with the crank. Sorry no photos for evident reasons!

Hope it helps.

Luc