Got a 2000 model 2.5L Ranger clone that keeps walking off timing belts, even with a new tensioner at any tension. Cam and oil sprockets seem good although I probably need to check their alignment again, not even sure if I'm doing it right or how I can align them if they are misaligned. if I had to guess I'd say the crankshaft sprocket is the most suspect, looking a little rough...would change it out just to eliminate that as a possibility, but I can't find one anywhere. The closest thing I can find to it is a sprocket for a '94-'97 2.3L Engine. I know the 2.5L is basically just a 2.3L with a longer stroke, and from what I can tell from the picture it seems to have the TDC mark in the right place and roughly the same size and number teeth, but I don't know enough to be sure. Does anyone know where to find a 2.5L crank timing sprocket, if the 2.3L will work, and how likely it even is that a sprocket would wear or go enough out of alignment enough to walk a timing belt off within seconds of starting the engine? Interestingly enough though, the truck was semi-driveable before the belt change, it was acting sluggish like it had jumped time, even after a full tune-up with a TPS sensor change as well. One further aside, I did also change out the harmonic balancer, not sure how much that should really affect anything though if the rest of the engine is in decent shape...

 

Welcome to the forum

There is a "washer" that is often left off that will cause your problem

It goes on the crank after the timing belt gear, so between gear and harmonic balancer, it is called a Belt Guide, it holds the belt on the crank gear.

 

Ah. Wow. Ok, thanks. I found it in the diagram, can't seem to locate one for sale though. Guess I'll have to pull it from a junkyard? Think most stock 2.3L or 2.5Ls came with one?

 

Where is the one that came off the engine?

Had to be there when you did the timing belt, just got left off

Yes, crank gear and belt guide should be the same for 2.0l/2.3l/2.5l Lima engines