I'm in the middle of replacing the timing belt and balance shaft belt on my 97 Accord...2.2 non VTEC. The shop manual says to insert a bolt in the access hole to align the rear balance shaft. When I try that, it seems like the bolt locks the shaft in place in several different positions which can't be right. I notice the pulley has some marks on it....can I use the marks to get me in about the right place before using the bolt? Or is there some other trick to it?

 

I think the object you are using to try to lock the shaft is a bit too big. If you try a series of rods (I used the "chuck end" of a high-speed drill) that are progressively smaller, you will find that one of them will suddenly go right through the proper hole in the shaft. You'll definitely know that you've got the right size rod when you stumble onto it.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

OK, I thought I was going crazy until I looked at the shop manual again and saw how the rear balance shaft is installed....the outside pulley/sprocket isn't attached directly to the shaft...there is a gear behind it. So the pulley is rotating at a different rate than the shaft. When I thought the probe was locking the shaft at different spots, it was because I was watching the outside pulley. The pulley rotates 3/4 of a turn for every full turn of the shaft. Gotta love it.