Removing timing belt while motor is removed

[Mark_88]

That's the Crank Position Sensor and it can be removed with those two bolts. The guard is the tone ring that tells the where the crank is so it can set the timing. It's keyed onto the crank so there is no danger getting it mixed up. Mark the outside of the ring so you know what way it faces when you put it back. Just use a dab of grease, nail polish or a pen to put a small mark near the key way.

You should be able to remove the belt now if you wanted to and all you have to do is release the belt tension pulley and lock it back by tightening the bolt to keep it in the
"open" position. When you install the belt that is the last thing you do...release the belt tension pulley and let it apply pressure to the belt.

I've installed belts over the bottom of the crank pull before...they are flexible so you just slip them up and under. It looks like you are good to go with that but I can't see how much clearance you actually have.

Try it...worst thing you have to do is pull the sensor and the tone ring off and slide the belt out...but release the tension pulley first regardless.

Otherwise you will be fighting the belt off and fighting it on...unless I'm missing something of course...lol

 

[STPL]

Just to follow up on my own post here, I was having trouble because the cam shaft sensor looked like its part of the whole bracket and it wouldn't come off. After reading marks post and taking half a bottle of PB Blaster to the bracket I eventually wiggled it off. There is a post that it sits on that was making it very difficult to remove (see picture http://imgur.com/fqYWhRz). I ended up wedging a screwdriver underneath it and applying pressure while using another screwdriver to wiggle it back and forth until it popped off. From there the disc slides right off and the belt can be removed without a problem.

Another timing belt tip, do not remove the spring on the timing belt tensioner bolt. That bracket might be a little annoying to get into position, but releasing all the tension in the spring only makes things harder. If you end up removing the spring like I did it's much easier to remove the bolt that holds the bracket in place all together. That way the bracket pivots on the spring bolt and you will allow the bracket another half inch of play and you can get the spring back in without forcing it. Tighten the spring tensioner bolt until the spring wont pop off, then move the entire bracket assembly back so you can screw the holding bolt back in. Then you can get the belt on and release the tension bolt to apply tension to the belt. I hope I save someone a headache!

 

[Mark_88]

Thanks for the update...good information for that year because I've never worked on one. My 1988 was so easy to change the timing belt that I just figured Ford wouldn't complicate things too much...I've been wrong before...