Let's just say I have a better idea as to why it cost so much for labor.

I don't quite understand how to tension the belts and make sure they stay tensioned. Particularly the timing belt, just below where the spring is and where the bracket has a slot for adjustment there is no screw. I don't remember taking a screw out of that threaded hole. I did read whereas a temporary screw could be put there to hold the tension on the timing belt while the balance belt was being adjusted. And I remember reading that the belts could be tightened (adjusted) without taking the covers off. I don't know how that would work. If that made sense to me I think I would have a better concept of how the belts are to be properly tensioned.

I feel pretty comfortable about everything being at TDC at the same time; however, when I turn the motor over by hand, it is hard to turn (relatively) during a portion of the revolution then all of a sudden easy. Is that indicative ofa belt or both not being properly tensioned? I don't quite feel ready to put every thing back together without feeling good about those thoughts.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

The last two posts in the following page may help:
https://www.hondaaccordforum.com/m_6..._3/key_/tm.htm

 

"I feel pretty comfortable about everything being at TDC at the same time; however, when I turn the motor over by hand, it is hard to turn (relatively) during a portion of the revolution then all of a sudden easy. Is that indicative ofa belt or both not being properly tensioned? I don't quite feel ready to put every thing back together without feeling good about those thoughts. "

BE CAREFUL! If you rotate the engine w/ the tensioner adjusting nut loose, the timing belt will jump a notch when you reach maximum compression and you will feel a loss of tension. Also you have lost crankshaft-camshaft alignment. W/ adjusting nut tight, rotate engine 6 turns CCW to set belt. Engine should be rotated w/ tensioner tight to TDC, loosen tensioner adjusting nut, rotate 3 lugs on camshaft sprocket (CCW always), and tighten the adjusting nut.

Doing this job w/o a Honda Shop Manual is like flying on instrumentsat 100 ft off the ground. Very dangerous!

good luck

 

I think I got it pretty good. I put it all back together and ran it for 45 minutes. I went back to the diagram the hondadude had sent and found what was my interpretation as to how to tension the belts. I rotated that engine several times ccw and checked tdc over and over. Then I loosened the adjustment bolt and put tension on the belts by "torquing" the engine ccw with the same crankshaft bolt. I watched the timing belt bracket (the one with the slot with no screw). When I put tension on the crankshaft bolt,I tightened the adjustment nut when it was obvious the belt was tight.

I ended up with one bolt "left over". I had every bolt separated into compartments labeled by what they came off of. The last thing I put on was the alternator and I had a bolt in that compartment that I CAN NOT figure out where it goes.