You should seek Volvo specific help.

I was simply fascinated by your ascertion that the timing belt isn't broken, the crank spins and the cam does not.

I however, am no star Volvo mechanic, just a guy with a volvo... but to answer your question, the crank pulley has shims behind it to adjust belt tension. Take the pulley off, mind the shims, and make sure that the timing belt isn't broken.

Maybe someone with more experience will chime in, or maybe you should go hunt around the turbobricks forum for similar problems.

If the camshaft is not turning while the engine is cranking, the drive pin on the cam is broken and the cam gear bolt is too loose. It's a 5mm dowel pin.

Paul, you're right about the shims and belt tension on your engine (b21/b23). The b230 uses a standard pulley and accessory tensioners like a normal car

It looks like the crank pulley isnt biting the belt. I have a video I just have to figure out how to post it to boobtube or something

Never pulled a B2.. Keyway for the pulley ???? That is, the crank pulley? Stripped key/keyway.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2017 08:11PM by Mad Matt F.

Broken timing belts are extremely rare. Timing belts that rip all the teeth off at the crank pulley are extremely common.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

If the timing belt is stripped..... ask why?
The older style square tooth belts are known to strip teeth.... but....
Does the can turn easily when you put a wrench in the bolt?
Does the auxiliary shaft turn easily?

Sheared keyways on the crank are pretty rare on the 8v engines.

I should clarify my earlier statement...

Every timing belt failure I've seen that wasn't caused by a locked up water pump or idler pulley or something, has failed by removing the teeth at the crank pulley, where the loads per tooth are highest.

The belts themselves are strong even when old, however the reinforcement is only in the backing, not the teeth. The teeth are just plain ol' rubber, and when they get old they can break off. Betcha it's an old belt and when you remove it you can peel the teeth off with your fingers like they were string cheese.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

^ Totally agree with you on this. It doesn't help that stock 8v volvos are non-interference. Most people never replace the belt and just do it when it breaks/strips going down the road.
$35 timing belt kit and 2 hours later you're on your way.

I think the head is toast cuz cylinder 1 is getting no compression (only one I tested) and yeah I tried to turn the bolt it doesn't turn freely it either loosens the bolt or it doesn't really move.

I dunno, maybe I tested it wrong or something cuz the gauge didn't move at all when I cranked it. Wouldn't the needle move at least a teensy bit?

You can't accurately use a compression gauge if the cam is out of time, let alone NOT FREAKING TURNING! Leak down test, yes. But you have to know what you're doing.

It should take about 20lb-ft (just guessing here) of torque to rotate the cam using the center bolt. You want to go in the tightening direction, which is clockwise when staring at the motor from the front bumper.

Try to rotate the cam with a 12in long ratchet/breaker bar/vise grips or something.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2017 07:47PM by Robert Culbertson.

Quote
LexusFman
I think the head is toast cuz cylinder 1 is getting no compression (only one I tested) and yeah I tried to turn the bolt it doesn't turn freely it either loosens the bolt or it doesn't really move.

I dunno, maybe I tested it wrong or something cuz the gauge didn't move at all when I cranked it. Wouldn't the needle move at least a teensy bit?

You tried to do a compression test on an engine that isn't turning the camshaft?

I don't even

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Quote
Pete
You tried to do a compression test on an engine that isn't turning the camshaft?

I don't even

Quote
LexusFman
Also, it feels really good to finally work on my Volvo shmoke some weed and drink some beer with my buds.

All is explained...

---

Disappointingly not yet a Jackass

As you can see Mavis Discount Tire hired a real expert.

At least I knew something wasn't right?

I'm like yung Micheal Jordan on a coats tire changer though.

Srs note though, I tried turning the cam with my breaker bar, nada...Should I try and remove the cylinder head?

If the cam won't turn, it sounds like it's seized in the head.
Good used head or a good used motor is in order. If the heads all warped and mangled from heat or running without oil, the bottom end probably has some decent damage as well.
A decent used engine should set you back ~$350. Swap takes a weekend at best... if you lay off the weed and booze.

Quote
Robert Culbertson
Swap takes a weekend at best... if you lay off the weed and booze.

Swap will only take a morning if he and his mates can score some good amphetamines!

---

Disappointingly not yet a Jackass