I have a 2004 xb that I'm working on. I rebuilt the bottom end and got stuck on a strange issue with the timing gears. I lined the chain and gears up with their respective marks, then I rotated the engine around to verify that it came back to the original marks. It doesn't. The chain moves off one tooth for every rotation. I've taken this off and put it back on a few times trying a few different things. I tried to make sure there's no slack in the chain, that I started in the correct position but it happened again. I'm sure this is something simple that i just don't know, what gives?

I have both 'orange' links alligned with the timing marks on the cams and the yellow link is on the tooth with the timing mark on the crank, at about the 4 o'clock position. The rear cam is the exhuast, yes? I have the orange link on the mark in the middle of the gear(one on either side says 'I' and 'E' which I take to be Intake and Exhaust). I don't really know that the vvt is turned right? There are 2 marks on the outside 'ring' and one mark on the inside(it lines up with one of the outside ring marks). So... I used that as the mark for the orange link, there's no way to hose that up is there? Not sure what to try next...

 

If the marks are correct when you first put it on, you're good. The marks will "walk" as you rotate it. As long as they "walk" an equal amount on both the cams, you're golden.

 

Thanks. Everything worked fine.

 

Thanks for coming back with results and not leaving your thread open with no answers. Glad it all worked out. Now if someone is having the same problem, they'll see it's normal.