Thread: Cam chain one tooth out of adjustment on intake or exhaust cam? How to adjust?

I might be barking up the wrong tree... See below update from me, original post below!



Hi guys,

Got a '99 Primera GTLE (SR20DE blacktop)

I noticed that the distributor is at the end of its adjustment at just 15 degrees of advance, and I know that the car has had a cam replaced in the past, so I'm betting that it was installed one tooth too far rotated.

Can someone walk me through what I need to do to rotate the exhaust cam sprocket by one tooth?

Many thanks!

Remove the cam cover, rotate the engine manually 1-50X times until the golden chain teeth line up with the marks on the cams. If they don't line up, you have confirmed that it is one tooth off

Thanks. If it is a tooth out, how to I fix it? Remove the tensioner, then what? Do I just support the chain and rotate it to the correct position?

On the GA16DE it was possible to do this by removing the chain tensioner, and carefully adjusting the cam gears. Can't say how the SR20DE is!

The engine should not run if the exhaust is off one tooth. I know this because I had done this before by accident. The engine would not start. I had to take everything back apart and move the exhaust camshaft and cam gear to the correct spot.

The GA16DE will run rough with one tooth off.

OP, this is what it should look like:

OK I think I need to start again because I clearly don't know what im talking about! Haha

The car runs perfectly as far as I can tell, sounds great, pulls cleanly, etc.

So, the car got over-revved on the Nordschliefe, a rocker got lodged under a camshaft and the end of a cam (unsure of which) snapped clean off

The car was transported back to the UK and a mechanic started the top end rebuild, the engine remained in situ, the timing chain wasn't replaced as far as I know. Unfortunately the mechanic passed away part way through the job, so the car went back into storage until a second mechanic was found, to complete the job. - So it is entirely possible something got missed or forgotten somewhere.

I went to advance the timing to about 20 degrees advanced, but noticed that the distributor was already at the end of its adjustment with just 14~ degrees of advance.

That led me to believe that something wasn't done correctly when the top end work was done, most likely that one of the cams is a tooth out.

Vids:

Timing light

Dizzy

Yes, you can do that. Or if you can't get enough slack, you can remove the cam sprocket, rotate the sprokcet into position while rotating the camshaft as well, and then bolt the sprocket back to the camshaft.

The chain can AFAIK get stretched over time, and not allow for as much adjustment as from factory.

If you really want to verify the chain, remove the valve cover and start rotating

Think I'll have to, otherwise everything anyone suggests is just speculative etc, I don't want to waste peoples time! So unless someone has a mega brainwave, hang fire until I've taken the cover off and had a look, I'll rotate the motor a few times, take a few pictures, and then report back.

I don't think the chain is stretched, theres none of the telltale SR20 clattering on startup.

Thanks everyone for the advice to far!