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[Webby the Bear]

Right then chaps. Getting myself all confused 

A while ago I posted about timing belts and how to do them and I gained a lot of knowledge so thanks for that.

Mentions in that thread was the 'floating' cam and crank sprockets I.e. The sprockets not keyed to the cams or crank and thus when loosened they'll just spin.

So speaking to the head mechanic about the ford set up. . . Really easy he says... Lock the crank with the pin in the block and lock the dual cams with the bar. Loosen the cam pulleys and then you can fit belt and use floating cams to pull the slack out of the drive side and then tension. Job done.

I completely get that and that makes perfect sense.

My question is purely for my own curiosity so don't worry I'm not going to go out and ruin anyone's engine 

But. Is it possible to...
Remove crank bolt
Remove harmonic balancer
Put bolt back in (as you would do for a normal non 'floating crank'
Tippex marks for crank and cam a not loosen cam bolts
Fit belt
Tension

Is that possible?

[Webby the Bear]

I will repeat though that this is from a curiosity point of view and I'm not going to do this 

[Lazydocker]

Short answer... No

The marks will never line up properly on the new belt... How do I know? Because, like you, I was once inexperienced and curious so we did it on the courtesy car as a demonstration 

[4x4]

Also some ford engines use vct so inlet cam needs setting up correctly,for example ford puma 1.7 vct ,set it up wrong and its new engine.this is different to honda's vtec system.

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks boyos.

After some extensive research all is becoming clear about this floating drank / cams stuff.

I have clearly been over thinking things 

Crank lock tool in. Cam lock tool in. When new belts on and you set the tension it will pull the floating crank round and pull the slack out of the drive side. Job done. Still really want to do one. . . I may take my mums fusion in for a year early cambelt 

Ok, so. . . . Is it possible to come up with a list of floaters?

Most fords and most renaults I'm told. Any others?

[The Sheriff]

I could compile you a list of the different types of floaters. 

[Webby the Bear]

  thanks stemo

Any real answers welcome