Timing Belt Install Question/ Rebuilt Pulleys

[99ISrdr]

I finally got the pulleys rebuilt and installed them and the new belts last night. After installing and checking my marks a cpl times, and they were on mark, I rotated the crank pulley 360 in both directions. I found the left cam pulley was off maybe 1/2 tooth. The line under the pulley's "up" mark bisects the tooth in the middle. After rotating, the case marking lands in the same tooth as the "up line", just the upper area of that tooth. So I quess that's 1/2 a tooth off. So, do I need to take the belts off and move the left pulley back to mark.  I hate trying to move that pulley, but I'm assuming 1/2 tooth is not close enough(newby at changing a timing belt)? And if so, I guess I just make sure the crank pulley is lined up and nudge the cam pulley until it's completely lined up? Also, I do notice the new Gates pulleys, although they move freely and smoothly, they don't spin when I turn them. Definitely totally unlike the OEMs I pulled off. And yes, they do clear the backing plates when turned. Any suggestions or info would be much appreciated.

Also, when I rotated the crank, there was no hard resistance. It rotated pretty easily.

[Skinhead]

If you can rotate the crankshaft by hand 2 full revolutions with no interference you are good to go.  I have seen several times where the belt was installed one tooth off and the bikes ran with no mechanical damage.  The marks may not line up exactly, but should be close.  I don't think you could correct for 1/2 a tooth off.

[Chrisj CMA]

It cannot be a half a tooth off. Turn it by hand in the direction shown on the crank pully (counter clockwise I believe) stop at the 1/2 mark and then get down low and look straight on to see if the ups are up and on mark. If not you can change it by a tooth but not a half tooth.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

You want to only rotate the crank pulley counter-clockwise. The way it works is that the t-belts have a tension side and a slacked side. The tensioners go on the slacked side to take up the, you guessed it, slack. As the engine rotates, it keeps the tension side of the belts tight, which allows the timing marks to stay consistent. If you rotate the crank pulley clockwise, you put the tension on the side of the belts with the mechanical tensioner, the slack side. Because there is always some "play" on the slack side, even with the tensioners adjusted properly, the cams will be slightly behind the crank when rotated clockwise. Rotate the crank pulley a few turns counter clockwise and then check your marks.

[99ISrdr]

Thanks for the info guys. I ran it 4 turns counter-clockwise and the left cam pulley still seemed to be a part of a tooth off. It looks pretty close though. This is the first time I've changed timing belts so I'm probably being overly careful. Anyway...I started her up, she's purring beautifully. I was having mild squealing on idle after about 10 minutes into a ride. I ran the engine for about 10 minutes...sounds quiet after doing the pulley mod. Thanks again for the input guys.

[RonW]

The left pulley never lined up on mines too, off ½ a tooth. It has kept me up at nights for years.

I have a question on your second problem (quote below). What do you mean by "the Gates pulleys don't rotate along with the belts?" I assume the Gate pulleys spins when off the bike or without the belts on them when manually spun (?).

Also, I do notice the new Gates pulleys, although they move freely and smoothly, they don't spin when I turn them.
Definitely totally unlike the OEMs I pulled off. And yes, they do clear the backing plates when turned.